Evening star., 1934-10-19
Bedtime Stories
BY THORNTON ". BURGESS.

xOwLER THE BOBcAT had set
" his heart on dinner Of young
Beaver. He licked his lips
every time he thought of It.
1t wasn't going to be easy to
get. He knew that from the start, but
this only made his desire the keener.
He knew that he probably would have
to wait and watch long time before
he would get chance to catch one Of
these young Beavers, if he got the
chance at all, but he was willing to
wait and watch.
Having looked things over carefully
where Paddy the Beaver. Mrs Paddy
and their two children were at work
harvesting their Winter supply OF food,
he kept away from there save for an
occasional visit to see how work was
progressing. And when he did go there
he took the greatest care that they
should not suspect that he was any
where about. He kept away from the
waters edge lest he leave a footprint
in the mud He always took care that
the wind should be blowing from
them to him, never the other way.
There would be days together when he
did not go near that pond. Then some
night he would climb certain big
hemlock tree from which he could see
all that was going on. So he kept
track of the progress of the work.
Meanwhile, Paddy and his family
were working steadily. Having been
undisturbed for so long, they often
worked by day as well as by night, re-
turning home to sleep when they were
tired. So the harvest went forward
steadily. The trees nearest the water
were cut first. When tree was down
it had to have the branches trimmed
off and then the trunk was cut into
convenient lengths, and these and the
larger branches were towed down to
the dam, dragged over this and then
towed down to the home pond and
there added to the food pile III deep
water near the house. Some cut while
others toWed. 1t was always a busy
scene when they were at work.
Il would go hungry long time be-
fore 1 would work like that" thought
Yowler as he watched, quite forgetting
that to other people his own hunting,
wherein he often has to travel long
distances, would seem like work.
He soon discovered that the trees
cut by the two young Beavers always
were those nearest the water. These
! were left for them by Paddy and Mrs
Paddy. They were not allowed to cut
any of the trees farther back. You
see, even though no enemies had ap-
peared for long time, Paddy and Mrs
Paddy had not grown careless and
| they didn't intend to allow the chill
dren to take any unnecessary risks
But when all those trees near the
water are gone they'll have to come
farther back" Yowler comforted him
self. He studied the trees and their
surroundings and planned where he
would hide when certain trees were to
be cut.
I've got to get one of those young
sters the first time, for I won't get a
second chance" thought he.
And all the time he was watching
he was studying the two young Bea-
vers. 1t didn't tNke him long to dis
cover that one was more venturesome
than the other and at the same time
more careless. He was not so prompt
in plunging into the water when now
and then Paddy sounded the danger
signal by slapping the water with his
broad tail. The first time Yowler
heard this signal and saw all plunge
into the water he thought that his
presence must have been discovered,
and he was quite upset. But when it
happened several times after. he
guessed that Paddy was Just trying
out the children to see how promptly
they needed the signal. and he
chuckled silently as he saw that one
was bit slow.
That's the one for me-" said he.
"Once he gets far enough away from
the water he will give me my chance.
Patience, and III have that Beaver
dinner"