Evening star., 1936-02-01
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.
Seize advantage when you may;
Little can be lost that way
Old Mother Nature.

7 T1D1NG in snow-covered hol-
IL low log In the Green Forest
was handsome young
4 4 Grouse. He was fully grown,
a big plump bird. But he was young,
for this was his first Winter. The
first Winter Is always a hard time for
the young people of the Green Forest
and the Green Meadows. Those that
live through it learn much, and no
matter how long they live, no other
Winter is quite like that first one. The
young Grouse in the hollow log was,
in a way, a self-made prisoner. To
escape Terror the Goshawk he had
plunged into the snow close to that
old log. Then to escape Reddy Fox,
who had dug down into the snow, the
young Grouse had crept into that hol-
low log. where Reddy could not reach
him. Now he was safe. but how was
he to get out again? That is what wor-
ried him.
He suspected that watchful eyes
we're fixed on that place in the snow
where Reddy had dug He knew that
Reddy would not give up easily. So
he had been content to remain right
where he was in that hollow log,
thankful to be safe. The Black
Shadow had come creeping across the
Green Forest. Grouse sleep at night
and are abroad by daylight. The
young Grouse suspected that Reddy
would give up after dark. He Won
dered If he dared to try to leave that
old log in the night. When he peered
out and saw the moonlight his heart
gave leap of joy. The moonlight
was almost like daylight. If there
was no one watching and waiting out
there now was his time. He could
fly out and into a tree.
He started to creep toward the open
end Of the old log. Just then a sound
rang out that made him back hur-
riedly and sent little chills of fear
racing all over him. 1t was the hunt
ing call of Hooty the Great Horned
Owl, one Of the flercest hunters in all
the Green Forest and one who de-
lights to hunt at night. That fierce
call settled the question He would
stay right there until daylight. He
would creep out just as soon as it was
light enough to see in the morning.
Now, there we're three people who
knew where that young Grouse was.
There were Reddy Fox, Yowler the
Bobcat and Terror the Goshawk. All
three had the same idea; they would
be on hand at break Of day. Reddy
and Yowler spent the night hunt
ing, but at the first hint of light
they were back at that place where
they knew the young Grouse was
hidden. OF course, when Reddy dis
covered YoWler he remained at a re-
spectful distance. and it was Yowler
who took up the old stand just back
OF the log in which the young Grouse
Wis hidden. Then, with the first light,
Terror arrived and took UP his perch
on the tall dead stub of a tree. There
they were, three fierce. hungry hunt
ers. However would that young Grouse
escape?
The young Grouse had crept to the
open end of the log in which he was
hiding. He was trying to make up
his mind what to do Should he
take a chance? Was the way clear?
He was himself getting very hungry
now. How he wished he could see
If the way was clear.
He had just about made up his
mind to take a chance and whirr up
out of the snow when something hap
pened. An old friend of the Grouse
family came to his aid without know
ing that he was doing anything of
the kind. 1t was Jumper the Hare.
Jumper came hopping along in that
easy way of his, which is all the
easier because his feet are so big and