30 OLD BLACK BASS 



to the school. There should be a major rush 

 to the cave when he should tell ; but nothing 

 could take from him the distinction of hav- 

 ing been first to enter and explore. 



His tail was to the entrance now, but he 

 knew when the small opening was darkened. 

 He whirled quickly, sudden unaccountable 

 alarm rushing over him. 



In the entrance was a turtle; a small, 

 ugly, fiery-eyed little reptile that was re- 

 garding him intently, its expression made 

 hideous by the underthrust of its lower jaw. 



White Belly was palpitant with terror. 

 This object he had always feared, not so 

 much because he had learned to fear it, but 

 because he was born afraid of it, as man is 

 of a snake. His small bivalvular heart 

 throbbed with his terror. 



The turtle's look became cunning. Its 

 beady eyes glowed with satisfaction. It 

 poised itself like a hand placed over the 

 entrance, its neck thrust forward, its short 

 front legs keeping it in position. 



With a violent propulsive movement of 

 his tail White Belly scudded swiftly for a 

 momentary opening between the reptile's 

 head and left fore foot. 



