CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
A CUNNING CAT AND A SLY OLD 'POSSUM.
The place where our adventurers now encamped was in a large grove ofwhite oaks and shell-bark hickory-trees. There was a spring near thecentre of the grove, and near this spring the horses were tied, as theregrew around it plenty of grass of the mezquite species. The dried meat,which formed the staple of their own provisions, had been scattered byJeanette in her flight, and of course lost. What were they to have fordinner? This was an important question; and by way of answer to it,Basil and Francois took up their guns and walked out to see whether theycould fall in with a squirrel or some other eatable creature. But thesun was yet high, and no squirrels could be seen--for these littlecreatures hide themselves during mid-day, coming out only in themornings and evenings to feed and play.
Failing to start any game in the thick shady grove, the young huntersbethought them of making trial around its edge; and, after walking ahundred yards or so, they came near the border of the prairie. They didnot show themselves suddenly, as they were in hopes they might discoverdeer, partridges, or some other game in--what is usually a favouriteresort--the open ground along the edge of the woods. They stolesilently forward, therefore, using the large tree-trunks to screen them.
The prairie was a clear one--that is, without timber-islands, only hereand there a tree, and these but small ones, mostly black-jacks andshell-barks. They could see over its surface to a great extent, as itwas quite level and covered with short spring buffalo-grass. No deerwas upon it. Not an animal of any sort. Yes, there was. On lookingmore carefully, at no great distance--about two hundred yards out--theybeheld two small creatures running over the sward, and at intervalssquatting upon their haunches like monkeys, as if conversing with eachother.
"Prairie-dogs," suggested Francois.
"No," said Basil, "they are not that, for I see no tails. Theprairie-dogs have long tails."
"What can they be, then?"
"Hares, I take it," replied Basil, looking through his fingers.
"Hares!" ejaculated Francois, in some surprise. "Why, they are notbigger than rats! Do you mean that they are young hares?"
"No, indeed, full-grown hares of their species."
"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Francois. "Why, brother, what are your eyes goodfor? You think they are far off, don't you? I tell you they are nottwo hundred yards from us, and a grey squirrel would be a giant besidethem. Hares, indeed!"
"I am still of that opinion," answered Basil, as he continued to gazeintently at the animals. "I am not certain, though. I wish Lucien werehere. Perhaps he could tell us what they are."
"Here he is, then," said Francois, as the footstep of Lucien was heardbehind them. "Look yonder, Luce!" continued he. "See what Basil callsa pair of full-grown hares!"
"And Basil is right," replied Lucien, after having examined them for amoment. "They _are_ full-grown hares."
Francois looked confounded.
"If I mistake not," continued Lucien, "they are the species known amongthe Indians of the prairie as the `little chief hare.' They may be adifferent variety, though, for there are several species of these smallhares found in the Rocky Mountains, and the prairies that lie aroundthem. They are very rare. I wish we could get the skin of one. I amsure papa would prize it highly."
"That we may soon get," said Francois. "Can I not step forward, andshoot one of them?"
"No," replied Lucien, "they would be off like the wind, before you couldget within range."
"What about Marengo? Can he not catch one?"
"I think not; besides, he would tear it in pieces. No. Our only chanceis to remain here. They appear to be making this way."
The three now took their stations behind the trunks of large trees, soas not to be observed by the timid little animals.
The latter, as they fed and sported over the grass, were still gettingnearer to the edge of the grove; but as they advanced in an obliquedirection, they were not likely to approach the point where the younghunters were stationed. These thought of moving farther along, so as tomeet them; and were about starting to do so, when an object appearedthat caused them to remain where they were.
Silently moving among the weeds and brambles, now trotting quicklybehind the covering of a prostrate log, now slowly crawling over themore open ground, went a strange animal. At intervals it stopped,squatted low along the earth, and looked eagerly out upon the prairie.It did not see the young hunters. Its yellow eyes were bent upon theinnocent little creatures that gambolled over the grass beyond.
It was an odd-looking animal--about the size of a terrier-dog, but,otherwise, altogether unlike one. It was of a reddish yellow colour,with brown spots upon its sides, and stripes or bands of the same alongits back. These gave it the appearance of the leopard or tiger species,and it resembled these animals in the rounded, cat-like form of itshead. Its erect tufted ears, however, and short tail showed that itdiffered, in some respects, from the tiger kind. The tail, indeed, wasthe oddest thing about it. It was not over five inches in length,curving stiffly upward, and looking as if it had been "stumped," as thetails of terriers usually are. It was not so, however. Five inches wasall the tail it ever had; and this shortness of tail, with the thickclumsy legs--but, above all, the high tufted ears, approaching eachother at their tips,--enabled the young hunters to tell what it was--_alynx_. It was that species known as the "bay lynx" (_lynx rufus_),commonly called in America the "wild cat," and sometimes the"catamount." It was the Texas variety of this animal--which is deeperin colour than the common bay lynx, and, I think, a different species.It was evidently doing its best to get near the little hares, and seizeone or both of them. It knew it was not swift enough to run them down,but it might get close enough to spring upon them. It was favoured tosome extent by the ground; for, although it was open prairie, the whitewithered grass of the previous year rose here and there over the newgrowth in tufts, large enough to conceal its body as it squatted.
Nearly in a direct line between the lynx and the hares grew a solitarytree, of the _pecan_ species, with spreading limbs; and almost under itwas a little patch or thicket of briars, weeds, and high grass--no doubtwhere some old log, or the carcass of an animal, had mouldered away, andfertilised the soil. For this the lynx was making on one side, andtowards it the hares were feeding on the other.
The latter had got very near it, and near, too, to the boys, who couldnow distinguish their long, erect ears, slender limbs, and gracefulmotions--resembling, in fact, those of the common hare. Their colour,however, was different. It was a rusty fern, lighter underneath, but inno part--not even under the tail--did any white appear. It was abeautiful sight to behold these innocent little creatures, now nibblingat the blades of grass, now leaping a few feet over the sward, and thensettling comically upon their haunches. The young hunters thought it abeautiful sight; and so would you, boy reader, had you witnessed themanoeuvres of these miniature hares.
An odd-looking object now presented itself directly in front of them,and close to the briars. It was of a round shape, and looked like alarge clew of hair or wool of a greyish colour, half-buried in theground. Whether it had been there before, neither Basil, nor Lucien,nor Francois, could tell. It might have been without their noticing it,as their attention was so occupied with the hares and the lynx.Francois said he _had_ noticed it a little before; but it had onlyslightly arrested his attention, as he supposed it to be a tuft of thedry grass or a globe-cactus (_echinocactus_)--a species of which theyhad seen much of late, and to which it bore a considerable resemblance.It was evident, however, on closer scrutiny it was not that.
The little hares seemed to notice it about the same time; and, promptedby curiosity, they drew nearer and nearer to it. There was nothingabout its appearance to alarm them. They had never been attacked by anenemy in that shape. To all appearance it had neither teeth nor claws,and consequently they had nothing to fear.
Encouraged by the absence of all danger,
and vieing with each other inboldness, the little creatures advanced, first one and then the other, afew inches farther, and so on, until their noses almost touched thestrange object. All at once the clew-like body flew out, displaying asharp-snouted four-footed animal, whose long serpent-like tail, at thesame instant, sweeping around caught one of the hares in its prehensileembrace! The little creature uttered a shrill squeak, while itscompanion bounded off in terror.
The opossum (for it was no other than an old she 'possum), now turnedupon her tail; and, seizing the head of the hare in her hog-like jaws,killed it at a single "cranch." She then released it from the coil;and, laying it out upon the grass, would have made a meal of it then andthere, had she been permitted to do so. But that was not ordained tobe.
The lynx, who was crouching forward, not twenty feet from the briars,had been a witness to all this. At first it seemed to give him chagrin.In a little while, however, he appeared rather to like it thanotherwise.
"On second thoughts," said he to himself, "it is better as it is. The'possum has saved me the trouble of catching the hare, and I might havemissed it withal. _She_ has _captured_ the game, but _I_ shall _eat_it, I guess."
These thoughts he certainly had--for they were as clearly expressed byhis actions, as if he had been gifted with speech and had uttered themaloud. In accordance with them, therefore, he crept on, intending tospring upon the 'possum unawares.
The latter, however, before commencing to eat, like all who know thatthey have done a guilty deed, raising herself to her full height, lookedaround to see if any one had been a witness to the act. Her eyes fellupon the lynx; and, hastily seizing the hare in her teeth, she plungedinto the bramble.
The lynx, seeing that further concealment was of no use, bounded forwardwith curved back and mane erect. He did not at once follow into thebriars, but ran around them, in order to discover at what point the'possum had hid herself. He was not without apprehensions that _shemight have a hole there_. If so, good-bye to both hare and 'possum,thought he.
It appeared not, however; for, after a few circlings around the patch,he was seen to dash boldly in.
For some time nothing could be seen of either lynx or 'possum. Thepatch covered only a few yards of the prairie, but it was a regular"brake," with vines, briars, and thistles, thickly interwoven andcanopied with leaves. Neither uttered any noise; but the motion of theleaves, and of the brambles at different points, told that a hot pursuitwas going on underneath--the pursued no doubt baffling the pursuer, byher body being much smaller and better adapted for squeezing throughnarrow places.
For some minutes this curious chase was kept up. Then the 'possumglided out into the open ground, to the astonishment of all stillcarrying the hare in her mouth. She made directly for the tree, andproceeded to climb it, grasping the trunk with her fore-arms, like ahuman being. Her taking to the tree also excited surprise, as it was asmall one--not over thirty feet high--and the young hunters knew thatthe lynx could climb as well as she.
The latter now came out of the bramble; and with one bound sprang to thefoot of the pecan. He did not follow up immediately, but stopped amoment to breathe himself, evidently exulting--as he knew he couldeasily climb after, and feeling satisfied that he now had his game safeand secure.
"Treed at last, old mother 'possum!" soliloquised he, although not_aloud_. "I'll get you now, an' if I don't give you a good woppin' forthe trouble you've put me to--_see if I don't_! I wouldn't eat ye,nohow--you ain't sweet enough for that--but I'll eat that hare, an' I'llchastise you for using it so!"
And with this determination he galloped up the pecan, his claws rattlingagainst the bark.
By this time the opossum had got near the top of the tree, and out uponone of the branches that grew horizontally. Along this the lynxfollowed; and had arrived almost within reach of the object of hispursuit, when the opossum, suddenly lapping the branch with her tail,let herself down to the limb below! The lynx appeared for a moment asif about to spring after; but the limb was a slender one, and he was notsure that he might be able to grasp it. He, therefore, turned back,evidently chagrined; and, descending by the main trunk, ran out upon thebranch now occupied by the opossum. The latter, as before, again letherself down to another limb; and then, without waiting for her pursuer,to another still lower, until she hung on the very lowermost branch ofthe tree!
The boys thought she was about to drop to the ground, and endeavour toescape to the woods. That, however, was not her intention, for she knewthe lynx would soon overtake her if she made the attempt. She had gotinto the safest situation possible, under the circumstances, and _she_seemed to know it. She therefore continued to hang on the lowest limbof the pecan--so near its extremity, that the branch bent under herweight. It would not have carried another 'possum--much less theheavier body of a lynx; and the latter, with the "eye of a lynx," sawthat at a glance.
Mortified as he was, however, he was determined to satisfy himself by atrial. He first crawled out upon the limb, proceeding with greatcaution as far as he dared venture; and then with outstretched clawendeavoured to reach the rings of her tail, thinking he might scratchthem off. In this he was not successful. He could barely touch thetail with his toes; and he might just as well have tried to open theclaws of an eagle. He next mounted the brands above, thinking thiswould bring him nearer; but he soon discovered his mistake. Again heran out upon the limb where the opossum hung, and looked for a moment asif determined to spring down upon her, and carry her along with him tothe earth; but the distance deterred him, and after a while he skulkedback and squatted himself in a fork of the tree.
He did not rest long before a new thought, seemed to strike him. The'possum was not so very high above the ground; perhaps he could springup and seize her by the nose? It was at all events easy to make thetrial. And with this intention he descended to the foot of the tree,and ran out to the spot over which she was hanging. But she was higherthan he had calculated; and, like the fox with the grapes, after a fewleaps he gave it up. He was resolved, however, to make her stand asiege; and, thinking he would be as comfortable where he was, he did notreturn to the tree, but sat down upon the grass, keeping his eyes fixedupon his antagonist.
All this while the old 'possum hung quietly upon her tail, holding thehare in her teeth. From the moment she had secured herself in herpresent position, she seemed to have no fear of her antagonist. On thecontrary, her countenance exhibited the expression of a maliciouslaugh--and this was as evident to the spectators, as words could havemade it. The cunning creature plainly enjoyed the chagrin she wascausing to the "catamount."
At intervals, however, the thought seemed to stray across her mind as tohow it would all end: and then she assumed a graver look. The lynx, wasdetermined--she saw that in his face--to make her stand a long siege.It would be, therefore, a question of patience and hunger. For thelatter she was prepared; and, to enable her to endure it the better, shepassed the hare into her hand-like fore-feet, and commenced tearing andeating it!
This was too much for the patience of the lynx. He could bear it nolonger, but rose suddenly to his feet; and, with mane erect, rushed upthe tree again, and out upon the branch where hung the opossum. Thistime, without stopping to calculate the danger, he sprang forward,throwing his fore-feet around the other's hips, and seizing her tail inhis teeth. The branch creaked, then broke, and both fell together tothe earth!
For a moment the lynx seemed stunned by the fall; but, the next moment,he was "himself again." He raised himself up; arched his back like atrue cat; and, with a wild scream, pounced down upon the 'possum. Heseemed to have forgotten the hare, which the other had dropped in herfall. Revenge was the passion that now raged strongest within him.Revenge caused him to forget that he was hungry.
The opossum, as soon as she came to the ground, had suddenly clewedherself up; and now presented the same appearance as when she first cameupon the stage. Head, neck, limbs, and tail, were no longer visible--nothing but a round
ball of thick, woolly hair! At this the catamounttugged with "teeth and toe-nails." He worried it for not less than tenminutes, until he became weary. The 'possum was dead to all appearance;and this the other seemed to think,--or whether he did or not, at allevents, he became tired, and left off worrying her. The sweetermorsel--the hare--was before his eyes; and this, perhaps, tempted him todesist, preferring to try his teeth for a while upon it. Leaving the'possum at length, he turned round and seized upon the hare.
At this moment Francois let Marengo slip, and the whole party rushedforward with shouts.
The lynx, seeing his retreat cut off from the timber, struck out uponthe prairie; but the great hound soon overtook him; and after a shortbut desperate fight, put an end to his poaching.
The young hunters in the pursuit had picked up the hare, which the lynxhad dropped in his flight. When the chase was over they came back tothe tree, with the intention of getting the dead 'possum, which theymeant to cook for their supper. To their astonishment no 'possum wasthere--neither in the tree, nor the briar-patch beside it, nor anywhere!The sly creature had been "playing 'possum" throughout all thatterrible worrying; and, finding the coast clear, had "unclewed" herself,and stolen off to her hiding-place under the roots of some neighbouringtree!
Nothing remained but the body of the lynx and the poor little carcass ofthe hare. The former none of our adventurers cared to eat, although itis often eaten both by the trappers and Indians--and the latter was sotorn and chawed as to render it worthless. So, since no other game--noteven a squirrel--could be found about the place, all four--Lucien,Basil, Francois, and _Marengo_, went to sleep--for the first time sincethe commencement of their journey--_supperless_!