Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-02
DAIO l. INlL OlOASAIO ". Burgess

many times to himself. I'm not look.
| ing for trouble. I don't want trouble
play fair, absolutely fair. I give ample
! warning and that is all I can do
Enough to eat and plenty of warm
sunshine is all I ask
He had had both, and so the long
| Summer had passed. With the coming
of the cool days of Autumn BuZZtai
had grown more and more sluggish and
had begun to think of Winter quarters
where he would sleep the Winter away
safe and comfortably. So by degrees he
had made his way to the lodges. He
knew those lodges as did no others save
Of his own kind. He knew all the mar
row, winding little passages that led fa1
down where Jack Frost could not posi-
bly, reach. But having reached the
Lodges, he was net quite ready to retire
He would crawl in at night, but on days
when jolly, bright Mr.. Sun was shining
he would crawl out again for another
sun bath on the rocks.
That had been what he was doing
when he had the adventure with Buster
Bear and Lightfoot the Deer. 1T is
still too warm to retire fer the Winter,
he had thought as he summed himself
that day. 1T will be a long time that
l will not have chance for sun bath,
50 I might as well make the most of the
opportunities I do have"
When Buster Bear had come shut
fling alcng Buzztail promptly ratified a
warning. He wasn't afraid of Buster,
for he knew that Buster would leave
him alone. And then. just in the MIX
of time, he had seen Lightfoot. One
glimpse was enough. He had glided for
the safety of those rocks and had
slipped into crevice barely in time to
escape the sharp-edged hcof5 of Light
foot. He had been aware that, though
he had done his best to move quickly,
he hadn't been really quick, and he
knew what that meant. 1t meant that
it was time to be thinking seriously Of
retiring.
For q long time Buzztail remained
hidden in that crevice. When at last
he ventured to pike his head out Buster
and LightfoOt were nowhere about.
He crawled out to bask once more in
the sum- but he took care to keep close
to that crevice.
THAT was a narrow escape had that
time" thought he. Here l have gone
all Summer with no danger and no
trouble with any one, and Just as I am
getting ready to sleep the Winter away
I almost lose my life. l thought 1 would
nave lew GAYS more Oh tHAS SUIISlllile
but l have had enough. I haven't any
pep left. I've lost all my quickness.'
A cloud hid the sun and cool wind
swept over the lodges Buzztail took a
last look around. Then slowly he glided
into q crevice and worked his way far
ther and farther down until, could you
have followed him, you might have
wondered how he ever would find his
way out again. He twisted and turned
and wound in and out until at last he
came to a dry little chamber. Some of
his family and relatives were already
there. Buzztail found a comfortable
corner and laZily settled himself.
1t was warm there. Jack Frost could
not get down there. No cold wind could
creep in. He would know nothing of
bitter weather and cold storms.
Il guess it is time to retire" he
thought drowsily. Il guess know when
7 am well off,"
And so BuzZtail the RattleSnake fell
asleep. to remain asleep until Winter
should be over and the warmth of
Spring creeps down there to waken him
again.