Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 41, Number 158, 20 May 1916 — Page 15

THE RED

ARROW

Then the lad was amazed to see the albino coming directly toward him. He dismounted and crouched behind his pony, hoping that the buffalo might come- within range. It saw him, however. -and swerved off. The Sioux mounted and galloped after it. It was apparently uninjured, and the race was a hard one. The albino turned back toward the ravine, and White Otter rode wildly to intercept it.- As he finally headed it off the buffalo turned at bay, and the lad approached with caution. Then the albino charged, and -White Otter turned his pony and drove home an arrow at close range. Maddened by the wound, the buffalo flashed about and rushed savagedly at the piebald, but the lad's second arrow sent theV frantic beast to its knees. As it struggled to its feet tw daring young Sioux rhnnred h within bow-length and, drove a third urrow tnrough its heart. Then he Jumped from his oonv and ran for ward to count a coup by striking me aeaa nuiralo with bis bow. It was a signal or victory which en :OilUltlllCAN INTERESTING INFORMATION ABOUT THEM SUPPLIED BY THE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPART i MENT OF AGRICULTURE . RUSSET-BACKED THRUSH - (Hylocichla ustulata) Length, seven and one-fourth inches. Among thrushes having the top of head and tail nearly the same color as the back, this one is distinguished by its tawny eyering and cheeks. The Pacific coast subspecies is russet brown above, while the other subspecies is the olive-backed thrush. The remarks below apply to the species as a whole. Range: Breeds in the forested parts of Alaska and Canada and south to California, Colorado, Michigan. New York, West, Virginia,

(mountains) and Maine; winters from Mexico to South America. Habits and economic, status: This is one of a small group of thrushes the members of which are by many ranked first among American song birds. The several i '' members resemble one another in size, plumage, and habits. While this thrush is very fond of fruit, , . Its partiality for the neighborhood k Streams keeps it from frequenting orchards far from water. It is most troublesome during the cherry season, when the young are in the nest. From this it might be inferred that the young are fed on fruit, but such is not the case. The ' adults eat fruit, but the nestlings, , as usual, are fed mostly upon in- ".' sects. Beetles constitute the largest item of animal food, and ants come next. Many caterpillars also are eaten. The great bulk of vegetable :....., food consists of fruit, of which twofifths is of cultivated varieties. Where these birds live in or near gardens or orchards, they may do considerable damage, but they are too valuable as insect destroyers to be killed if the fruit can be protected In any other way. 1

By Elmer Russell McGregor

titled him to recite the adventure at the council-fire. After carefully removing the priceless pelt White Otter ang a Sioux war song and danced around the buffalo. Then he saw a large golden eagle circling . above him, and he believed it was a good omen. Cutting a large piece of meat from the carcass, he held it above his head as an offering to the great war-bird of his people.' : i; -Then, having performed the customary ceremonies. White Otter mounted his pony and 'rode toward the foot hills, which, were less than half a day's journey away: At the sun was barely at the zenith, he noped to reach them before dark. Behind them towered the mountains, ,. great snow-can oed i. neaka close against the sky. The lad looked upon them with superstitious awe. for he had been told that they sheltered the mysterious Thunder Bird, and the great bear which could kill a bull buffalo with one blow of its paw, It was the first time White Otter had been within sight of them, for the Sioux: were a prairie people, and he determined to .explore the rugged peaks and learn for himself whether the tales he had heard. were true. f f i He approached the foot hills with great caution realizing that enemies mignt ue hidden In the 'timber. Before venturing within arrow range, he stopped to" reconnoiter. For a long time he searched the low wooded slopes for a trace of smoke or anything which misrht nrn. claim the presence of concealed toes. When he saw nothing to arouse his suspicions he "rode forward Slowlv. As . he d raw nearer however, he dropped to the off side or ins pony, and advantage at an angle, with his body sheltered behind the piebald. It Was a trick which several' times had saved Ids grandfather, and Wolf Robe had cautioned him to remember it. White Otter reached the timber in safety, and found a well-worn game trail leading up from; the border of the plain. He followed it to a grassy park, and found a Bpnng ana many fresh deer tracks. Hoping to see the shv r.reatiirea themselves before dark, White Otter concealed his pony and then seated himself to watctf at the mIm of the timber. It wos not lone before Uvtv snapped. over at the nnnosltA lrto or tne park. The lad fitted an arrow to his bow and peered anx iously into the woods. However, as he saw nothing moving, he attributed the noise to some ' email animal passing through the undergrowtn. men he saw the top of a small tree tremble, and he instantly became alert. later a splendid black-tall buck appearea at tne edge of the park. It raised its nose into the air and thrust forward its great ears; searching the wind for danger. But me wind was raise to its trust, for at that Instant it veered to the, nn. posite quarter and the buck , was deceived. Believing that all was wen, tne nanusome creature walked boldly into the onen. reach oten brought it nearer its doom, for the caim-eyed young Sioux had already aimed his arrow at its heart. The black-tail stopped to cron a month ful of grass, and then it went for ward to drink at the sarin. Twi it lowered its head, and a'eh (m it suddenly straightened and looked nervously, about. the little park. It enemy was skillfully concealed, uowever, ana tne wind n nn warning. The buck was apparently luuviavea mat us suspicions were unwarranted, and anln it ihii its head and plunged its muxzle into ine pool. A moment afterward it fell with & Sioux arrow through its heart. The park was an attractive camp site, and White Otter decided to remain there for the night. As darkness came on, however, he wished himself back on the open plain. He was oppressed by a feeling of dread. The massive peaks seemed to cast a spell of gloom over him. They shut out much of the sky and towered above him like grim, destroying monsters of the night. To the prairie lad it seemed that he Was at the portals of a

THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM. SATURDAY.

mysterious world of giants; An avalanche of sliding snow thundered down into a nearby canon, and White Otter sprang to his feet In alarm. A few moments afterward an owl hooted, and he wondered if he had heard the voice of the Thunder Bird. The wierd tales of old Yellow Horse, the medicine man, ran through his mind, and each new sound added fuel to his imagination. Then he heard a wild scream ring through the night, and. as he was unfamiliar with the hunt ing cry of the mountain lion, the young Sioux feared that some evil spirit of the mountains had discovered his fire. He fitted an arrow to his bow and , sat . staring wideeyed Into the dark. However, as the time passed and nothing came to disturb him. he finally laughed away his fears and lay down beside his fire. The Sioux was sleeoing soundlv when thegreat sinewy cat that had aiaruea mm with her scream walked from her lair" high up' in a granite ledge and sniffed the keen night wind which crept up the mountain. It carried the blood scent, and the lioness growled deep in her throat like an angry dog. She heard the hungry cries, of her kittens, and her eyes softened at the sound. Then the wind again brought its message, and she bounded away into, the night and stole stealthily down into the foot hills In search of the kill. White Otter . was awakened by the frightened snorting of his pony. Seizing his weapons, he jumped to his feet and hurried toward the1 piebald. It was trembling with panic, and the lad knew that danger of some sert threatened him. As he listened he heard something moving hear the . carcass of the aeer. Then he heard a snarl, and, looking toward the sound, he saw a pair of fiery eves glaring-at him from the dark. They shone with a wierd greenish luster which sent a shudder through him.- .Then, an he recovered from the shock and aimed ms arrow, they vanished nri the excited lad ha doubts of their reality. . He wondered if he was confronted by some kindred nir of the Thunder Bird. A , moment mit-r ne neara something attempting to drag away the bur uu fear instantly left him as he asked nimseu it it were the part of a Sioux warrior to stand weakly by while another robbed him of his spoils. Enraged by the thought, he crept rorward with every muscle set for action, with every sense keenly alert, ready to battle for his Ashe lad moved slowly across me parn ne saw something crouching beside the carcass of thn deer Then he again saw the flash of tnose . terrifvina' ovaa Thin mi however, they did not vanish, and' me oioux nesitated, for he read a cnauenge in their angry gleam. Was he confronted hv the. at bear of the mountains?. His heart oounaea at the thought. Unable to resist the tantalizing target, he reieaBeu ms arrow.; The twang of the bowstring was roiiowea by an enraged snarl, and then a long, black shape leaped through the dark. White Otter sprang aside and the lioness missed him and disappeared into the nirht Ah instant later he saw the glint or her eyes and he freed another arrow; it hummed Its way into the dark, and the Sioux knew he had railed. Then, excent for the nr. vous snorting of his pony, air was still. White Otter peered anxiously Into the blackness; he wondered if the strange, beast had slunk away. He looked in vain for the warning flash of its eves, ha strain ed his ears to catch the sound of a stealthy footfall. Was the savage intruder creeping toward him? Was it preparing for another spring? The possibility filled him with alarm. As White Otter was unable to guess from which direction the next attack might come, each moment increased his suspense. Then he had a sudden warning or danger behind him. He turned just fn time to drive an arrow Into the crouching beast which waa stealing upon him from the rear. Mortally wounded, the lioness made her death-leap and threw White Otter to the ground. However, he escaped with nothing more serious than a few scratches, for the lioness expired as she struck him. White Otter had seen the nelta of these great mountain cats brought into came by Sioux hunt ers, but this was the frit time he had looked unon the animal itself He attempted to drag the lioness across uie park, but it was an un-

MAY 20. UK

The Saodfflaii

tory for Newspaper Syndicate, New York.J The Know had linen nn the eroimd for weeks and weeks, so that Mr. and Mrs. Fox had not been able to get outdoors, and now one morn ing Airs. rox said as she spread the breakfast table : "This is the last of our food, Reynard. It the snow does not melt enough for you to get' out today I don't know what we will do." . "Well, my dear," said Mr. Fox, . who always looked on the bright side of things,. "let has our last meat a good one. I know you have a mince pie on the top shelf, which I suspect you are saving until we are entirely out of food. Bring It on my dear, and we will be happy while we can." Mrs. Fox sighed as she brought - on the pie, for she had been saving it just as her husband had said, for the very last meal. "Oh. we are a long ways from starving," said Mr. Fox, going to the door and opening it. ' : , '-"There is Mr. Rabbit.", he 'said. "Good morning, Mr. Rabbit," . he called. "Do you think we can, get out of the woods today? Our food Is all gone; we have eaten our. last me al." "Good morning, Mr. Fox," replied Mr. Rabbit. "This certainly is bad weather for na wood folkfl! nur food is all gone, too, --and Mr: Possum just told me they did not have any breakfast at his house this morning, and Mr. Coon Just, ran past me and he said they did not have any supper last night. I expect Mr. Bear is the only one in the foreBt that has a bite to eat in his house, and he don't wake up until spring, so it will not do us any good." '.-' "Well. 1 never! "'exclaimed Mr. Fox. "Why didn't i. think or that before. Why, Mr. Rabbit, we must all go to Mr. Bear's house and wake angy ;when he finds out how bad matters are wun us, u we ao wane him up before he finishes his sleep. Run and find Mr. Coon and Mr. Possum, and everybody who is without food, and bring them here. " watr ran Mr Itahhlt over the snow, and in a few minutes he re turned wun Mr. uoon, Air. rossum and their wives, and Mrs. Rabbit, too. "But what are we going to do?" they asked of Mr. Fox, "You know Mr V.aar will ho antrr. enAiich to eat us tor waking him, and besides that he sleeps so soundly I don't believe we can wake him up," "We will try. anyway," said Mr. Fox. "Come along." ' So they alt stooped under , the window and called: "Mr. Bear. Mr. Moor urnlrn im w n Ira 'lint Wa 'am snowed in the forest and we shall starve if you do not reea us," usually large one and the , lad found, his strength unequal to the task. Then he brought some embers from his fire, and when he had kindled them into flame he sat down In the ruddy glow to examine ma strange ueasi ue uau aniea , He looked solera nty Into the fierce face; be lifted the great padded paws, with their long, sharp talons; ha fe.lt tha nnwerfiil mimrleH In the shoulders, and he parted the snarling lips and saw the cruel, dnrllkn timkn. ThA lad had heard the hunters tell many boastful stories about their encounters with these savage beasts, and he rememhered that nld Yellow Horse pointed proudly to a long white . . . . ......... .. '' . .... . . . (tHi nn nia nreaar wmrn nn rinimen had been made by the claws of 6ne of theiA m(i ' Therefore, having killed the fearsome mountain crea ture tha vntincr HIaiik looked unnn hlmnelf da a real warrior, and he counted many coups, and passed most of the night singing and dancing about the lioness. (Mors Next Week.) . J rvi vnn know that votir teacher should receive your respect? Be kind to them. They are taking the places of your parents. If you think it U Imnolite to be nasty to your parents, why be ugly to your teachers?

PAGE THRER

Tonight from Mr. Bear, and afterwatting a f I . i t n I . .4. . . . .11 uiuitue wr. rvi emu iuvy iuui van again louder. Again they called: "Mr. Bear, Mr. Bear, wake up, wake up!" , Still no answer, and they called and called until one after another they grew so hoarse they could talk only in whispers. "Now what shall we do?" asked Mr. Coon in a whisper. 'r "I am so hungry I could eat a board "There is but one thing to do, now," said Mr. Fox. "We fluist break in the door. Now, when I call- out. 'AH together, everybody pusher Do you understand?" . Everybody said he did and got Into line. . ' ' ' "All , ready ?" aBked Mr. Fox. Everybody said he was, and Mr. Fox called out, "Now, alt together!" "Crack! Bang t" went the door and into the room Went' Mr. ' Fox, followed by all the others, but with such force that Mr. Fox. did not . stop in the house. He weut right on through the other, side of Mr. Bear's house and outdoors again and Btuck In the snow to his neck. 'And after htm went Mr. Coon and Mr. Possum and Mr. Rabbit, only they went head first into the snow, with their legs - slicking -tip and kicking like windmills. , Mrs. Fox, Mrs. ( Coon. Mrs. Possum -and Mrs. Rabbit , slid across the floor and there they sat looking at each other lir a" very foolish . manner. Mr, Fox flounced about until he got out of the snow, and then he pulled out the others, and they went' into the bouse. . "Where la ho?" they asked. ".Where Is who?" asked, Mrs. , Coon. ' "Why, Mr. Bear, of course." replied her husband.' "Surely he Is "Oht I forgot all about .htm.' Said Mrs. Coon, looking around at the others. Whatrdld " we come for anyway? i Oh! dear, . my head feels' so queer." v'- ' "My stomach feels queerer than my head,", said Mr. Coon, ;,'and if Mr. Bear Is not awake now he never will be until spring, and t cannot . watt until spring for my breakfast. ; Come along, we wilt find the pantry I fhey did not needl! to be told a second time, and la a few minutes Mr. Bear's pantry was 'as bare as Mother Hubbard's cupboard.' , i Jn . the spring c when Mr ' Bear awoke he rushed, out of the house -and asked everybody he met what happened during the winter, and vou may be sure Mr. Fox and Mr. ' Coon and Mr. Rabbit were right on hand with a cyclone story,, and told Mr. Tlear how draarifnl It. had heen and how they al) had worked hard and rebuilt their homes whle he was asleep.- . . HERE'S ROUTluE OF DAILY LIFE FOR "Y" OUTIUG Boys,' are you going to the.Y. M. C. A. summer camp this year? It is not too early to begin to plan forjt, Mr. SummervUle 'who with Mr Roach will have charge of the camp, is beginning to lay plans. The . day's ; program will be much like that of last year , 8:30 a. m. Reveille s 6:45 a. m. Morning' dip. 7:40 t, m, Flag raising. 7:15 a. m. Breakfast. ,r 8:00.a. m Chapel. 9:00 a. m. Athlettfcs. hikes, etc. 11:00a. m -MOmlnff swim. - '' 12:00 noon. -Camp inspection. 12; 15 p. m Dlpner, . t , U00 p. m. Rett hour!:-' . ' 2:00 p. m. Base ball games, etc, 4:00 p. m. Afternoon swim. 6: 15 p. m. Flag lowering. 6:3 p. m, Supper. 6:3a p. mz-Games. ... 7:30 p. m. Camp-fire songs, 9:00 p. m. Derotlooals. 9:30 p. m. Taps. . V ;