Raggylug ^ 



no patter of feet with it. Rag had lived his 

 whole life in the swamp (he was three weeks 

 old) and yet had never heard anything like 

 this. Of course his curiosity was greatly 

 aroused. His mother had cautioned him to 

 lay low, but that was understood to be in case 

 of danger, and this strange sound without foot- 

 falls could not be any to fear. 



The low rasping went past close at hand, 

 then to the right, then back, and seemed going 

 away. Rag felt he knew what he was about , 

 he wasn't a baby; it was his duty to learn 

 what it was. He slowly raised his roly-poly 

 body on his short, fluffy legs, lifted his little 

 round head above the covering of his nest and 

 peeped out into the woods. The sound had 

 ceased as soon as he moved. He saw nothing, 

 so took one step forward to a clear view, and 

 instantly found himself face to face with an 

 enormous Black Serpent. 



" Mammy," he screamed in mortal terror 

 as the monster darted at him. With all the 

 strength of his tiny limbs he tried to run. But 

 in a flash the Snake had him by one ear and 

 whipped around him with his coils to gloat 

 over the helpless little baby bunny he had se« 

 cured for dinner. 



** Mam-my — Mam-my," gasped poor little 



