Evening star., 1932-12-27


~ knew 1t the very day they ar
rived. Little goes on in his
neighborhocd that Old Man Coyote
doesn't know about. He makes it his
business to know
NO one can know too much about
his own neighborhood, says Old Man
Coyote. Knowing too much never yet
lost me a dinner, but not knowing
enough has lost me many good meals"
So, while he is out hunting he is at
the same time keeping watch of all
that goes on about him. for there is no
knowing when such knowledge MAJ be
useful. He knows what goes on in the
Green Forest and on the Green Mead
ows and in the Old Pasture. and he
doesn't neglect the Smiling Pool. He
visited there the very night after the
OtterS arrived and although he saw
none of them he knew by certain signs
that his nose and eyes did not miss,
that Little Joe had Mrs. Otter and two
children with him.
He wasn't much interested mo
chance for meal there" he muttered.
Not now, anyway If they were max
ing one of their overland journeys il
might be different. I might have
chance. But here they Will stick SO
close to the water that may as well
forget them right now
But he couldn't forget them The
very next morning he stole to a point
where he could watch the Smiling Pool.
but he himself unseen He saw Little
Joe's family romping and playing and
making their slippery slide. Every day
after that when he had nothing more
important to do he stole over to watch
the Offers slide and romp And the
mn ha yrFnf FOL, l,1
thought how good a dinner of young
Otter would taste. He just couldn't
help 1t.
Little Joe and Mrs. Otter probably
are tough" thought he. but those
young Otters are bound to be tender.
And they are in perfect condition" He
licked his lips and his mouth watered
a little. He couldn't help it.
Don't be silly" he chided himself.
You can't catch one Of them and you
know it. Forget them
But this was easier said than done.
FOR the temptation to watch those
Otters play was too great So every day
he was on hand in his hiding place
He tried to tell himself that it was
only to watch them play. Yes, sir that
is what he tried to tell himself. But
all the time as he watched. his mouth
watered and he licked his lips Those
young Offers were sleek and plump
and they had not yet grown to their
full strength. Neither had they had
experience in fighting. If-if he could
surprise one Of them alone! Well, why
shouldn't he? You see, temptation was
getting in its work.
You would be foolish to try it." Old
Man Coyote would say to himself every
time he thought of what he might do if
only he could surprise one of those
young Offers alone. You don't need
one. If you really needed one for food
it would be different matter. You have
good hunting, such as 1t is so you really
don't need one at ALL" Then he would
look at those plump young Otters and
his mouth would water again, and
without really knowing it he would be-
gin to lick his lips.
So the more he watched the greater
grew the temptation to try for one of
those young Otters, and almost with
out knowing it he began to plan how
he might surprise one alone. He took
note of everything they did, where they
went, how far they wandered from the
Smiling Pool and how near to them
their mother and Little Joe Otter kept.
Il don't want any trouble with Lit