New Britain herald., 1928-11-24
The Unfair Hunter
Nv Thornton W. burgess


True sportsmen take the utmost
ere
That what they do be not unfair.
Rusty the Fox Squirrel
Up in his home tree Rusty the
Fox Squirrel was peering down at a
barking dog and hunter with Il
terrible gun. The hunter was look
Ing up In the tree. He had not yet
discovered Rusty. He was looking
tor him. for he knew that he was
up In that tree. Rusty was clinging
close to the other side of the trunk
and pe"ping around. Presently the
hunter began TO walk in circle
around the tree, so that he could
see all sides Of 1t. Then Rusty had
to move. He had to keep that tree
between him and the hunter. The
hunter caught a glimpse of him.
Hal he exclaimed. "A Fox Squir-
rel, and a fat one. He will make a
good squirrel stew" He held his gu.l
In readiness to shoot and continued
to walk around the tree. by NOV
ing quickly he caught glimpse of
Rusty long enough to throw his gun
up and shoot. Fortunately. Rusty
lodged at that very instant. But
the shot tore the bark OF the tree
and the bang of the gun gave Rusty
a terrible fright.
Missed you that time. old fell
low" exclaimed the hunter. but
I'll get you next time"
But there wasn't to be a next
time. Rusty watched his chance and
when he had the tree between him
self and the hunter he darted down
and into his home. The hunter
caught just glimpse tof Rusty's
Zig plume of a tail as it disappeared
in the entrance hole.
The hunter knew now that he had
no chance of shooting Rusty unless
he could get him out of that hole.
He examined the tree carefully. He
discovered that down near the bot
tom OF it was hole, and that the
hollow seemed to extend up.
THE chances are" said the
hunter. talking 10 his dog. that II
this hollow doesn't so clear up 10
where that Squirrel is, it at least
connects with it, ! think vel try
smoking him out"
So the hunter made a little fire
in the hollow at the foot of the
tree. and on this he put damp leaves,
which made a great smoke. Then
he stood back to watch the hole
where Rusty had disappeared. hold
ing his gun in readiness to shoot
Rusty the instant he came ont. can
sou think of anything more unfair
I:usty had been smart enough to es-
cape that hunter and it was only
fair that he should be allow ed the
safety he had been smart enough TO
win. But there are some people wha
haven't the least IDA of fairness.
This is true OF many of those who
hunt. These hunters are not sports
men. Sportsmcn are always fair. 4
real sportsman would have gone
away to hunt for some one else and
left Rusty alone. But this hunter
was not a sportsman.
l;y and by the smoke began TO
creep out from knolhoIes and little
cracks higher No in the tree. But.
so far. there WAS no smoke coming
out Of the hole into which Rusty
had gone The hunter waited md
waited. No Rusty appeared. A, la 81
the hunter knew that there was no
connection between that hollow
where RUSTY was and the hollow
where the fire was. The smoke
hadn't reached Rusty at all. There
vas no way of getting him out of
that tree excepting to cut the tree
down. and this vas too much OF "A
.,oh. SO finally the unfair hunter put
out the fire at the foot Of the tree.
called off his dog and went to hunt
for some on else
Copyright. 1925, by 7. W. Rurgessl
The next storS: Buster Bear Is
Tempted"