Evening star., 1938-12-05
Bedtime Stories
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.


The spirit that triumphs is the
spirit of the truly brave, who.
beaten in one battle. return again
and again to the tight. Bowser
the Hound isn't this kind. When
Yowler the Bobcat won that fight
in the Green Forest he won for all
time from BoWser. Bowser's heart
was not stout enough to make him
willing to face Yowler again. So
when. eagerly shifting this way and
that ahead of Farmer Borwn's Boy.
he came across the fresh trail of
Yowler, the scent that filled his
wonderful nose filled him with
anger. but still more with fear.
When Farmer Browns Boy saw
Bowser come sneaking back, his
tail between his legs and his head
hanging, he knew right away that
Bowser had found traces of some
one whom he feared. He had seen
Bowser act that way before when
he had come across the fresh scent
of Buster Bear. Had he smelled
Buster Bear this time or had he
smelled Yowler the Bobcat? Farm
er Browns Boy wished he knew.
"Bowser," said he severely, Bow
ser, I'm ashamed of you. I GER
tainly am ashamed of you. I know
well enough that you haven't found
anybody yet. All you've found is
the scent left by the feet of some
one who has been along this way,
and here you are turning tail and
hon of
coward, sir"
Bowser crawled along the ground
to his masters feet and feebly
wagged his tail. Farmer Browns
Boy went on toward the place from
which Bowser had just come Bow
ser sneaked along behind him. What
he wanted to do was to turn and
run home, but he didn't dare do
that. He knew that he would be
soundly punished if he did. Farm
er Browns Boy watched sharply
for tracks, but there were none to
be seen. Then he tried to send
Bowser on, but Bowser wouldn't go.
For the first time in his life he alb
solutely refused to obey Farmer
Browns Boy. He wouldn't hunt.
Farmer Browns Boy sat down on
q log to consider.
"Bowser,' said he, "how do you
expect I am going to find that Bob
cat if you won't help?" It's silly
of you, very silly indeed, to be afraid
when I am along with my gun.
know well enough you've found his
tracks around here and I want to
know which way he has gone. If
had A nose like yours might find
out, but I haven't and now you
won't lend me yours. There's a
lodge of rocks back here and that
is the only place I can think of
where he may make home. Well
go over and see what we shall see.
And, mind you, don't try to sneak
away and run home!'
Now. this is just what BoWser
wanted to do. 1t is just what he
would have done if Farmer Browns
Boy hadn't kept sharp watch of
him. But as they went on and
Bowser found no more of the scent
of Yowler he began to fell better.
1t wasn't in this direction that he
had had that dreadful fight with
Yowler. He almost forgot Yowler
and began to run this way and run
that way with his nose to the ground
hoping to find the trail of Jumper
the Hare
So they came to the ledge of
rock and right at the foot of it Bow
ser suddenly stopped short, growled
as he looked up for a minute. then
turned with little whimper and
ran back past his master, who called
to him sharply. Bowser stopped,
but Farmer Browns Boy couldn't
get him step nearer that ledge.
Farmer Browns Boy chuckled.
you've told me all I need to
know, Bowser," said he. Prom the
way you act it is clear that Yowler
Is somewhere in this ledge"
With gun ready ne climbed up
and began to look for q ceve. At
a small opening among the rocks
he stopped. Just in front were a
few little bones. Farmer Browns
Boy stopped and tried to see inside
the hole. A low growl, an urgly
growl ending in a snarl, caused him
to step back hurriedly, his gun
ready to use. He had found Yowler
at home.
(copyright. 193s.)