The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-12-05

wise head has Buster Bear on
his big shoulders. He knows full we'll
what he can do and what he cannot
90 and il is seldom that he wastes
time trying to do a thing that II is
at all doubtful that he can do
When Buster discovered those
sleeping Geese in the pond OF Paddy
the Beaver he understood al once
what had brought Yowler the Bob
Cat over there that night. He knew
all about Yowler and his ways. He
knew that Yowler had far more pa
tience than he had He knew that
Yowler would watch hours at a time
to catch a good dinner.
The scent OF those Geese made
Busters mouth water just as it had
the mouths of Yowler and Old Man
Coyote and Reddy and Mrs. Fox and
old Granny Fox. He wanted one of
them. He wanted one of them very
much indeed. But he knew that his
chances of catching one were not
nearly as good as the chances of
FOWLER the Bob Cat. Buster can move
quickly when he wants to. but Yowler
can move much more quickly.
Busters small eyes twinkled
shrewdly as he stood up to look over
the pond, and in the moonlight saw
those big birds sleeping. They are
safe enough where they are now"
thought he. There will be no chance
to catch one unless they drift in
close to shore. Even then ii will
take someone who can spring swift
~. Yowier can do just that He is
the one to catch one of those Geese.
I'll leave 1t for him to do I'll pre-
tend to go off and then he'll come
down from that tree and watch those
Geese. II he catches one I'll have
good dinner with no trouble at all;
III simply take that Goose away
from Yowler"
Buster chuckled TO himself. shifted
once or twice, then dropped down to
all four and shuffled away through
the woods. He didn't take any pains
not to make q noise: Honker the
Goose heard him. for Honker is
light sleeper. He awoke and listened
for few minutes. He knew by the
sound that whoever had been there
was going away. He looked his flock
over and saw that all were there
Then he went to sleep again, salts
fled that no harm could reach any Of
them out there In the water.
FOWLER the Bob Cat heard Buster
leave. He listened sharply as the
sound of Busters shuffling feet grew
fainter and fainter and finally ceased.
Then Yowler came down from the tree
he had climbed at Busters approach.
He snarled under his breath as he
glanced in the direction in which
Buster had disappeared. Then he
turned his attention to those Geese
and in few minutes had forgotten
Buster Bear and everything else
You see 1t seemed to him that the
nearest Goose was drifting in a lit
tie. Yowler crouched flat and pre-
pared for long. patient wait
Meanwhile Buster Bear had gone
off about other business ut will be
. long time before any OF those
Geese come in near enough to be
caught" he muttered. Yes, sir It
will be long time. I'll have plenty
of time to get lunch of acorns."
So Buster hunted up some acorns
and had a very good lunch. After
this he silently stole back toward the
pond of Paddy the Beaver. You know.
he can move very quietly indeed when
he wants to- Some little distance
BACK from the pond Buster stopped.
He didn't want FOWLER to suspect he
was about. He knew that IL Yowler
should catch one of those Geese he
could not carry such a great heavy
bird far or fast and there would be
no trouble In catching UP with Yowi-
er and taking that Goose from him.
A crafty old fellow is Buster
Bear
Copyright. 1891. by T. W. Burgess)
The next story. THE watchman's
Alarm.