28 DAN BEARD'S ANIMAL BOOK 



night when two hungry men at last sat down to a 

 feast of crackers and trout. 



Not long after this adventure, the log house at 

 Wild Lands was filled with a merry company of 

 city people people with all 



THE CITY FEAR OF SOLITUDE 



and a firm belief in the existence of terrible 

 blood-sucking bats, long-toothed venomous ser- 

 pents with a miraculous power of charming their 

 intended victims, implacable hoop snakes and 

 poisonous swifts. 



As night approached the fear of these things 

 crept over the guests, and they retired to their 

 cots trembling. Through the chinks they could 

 see the stars twinkle and they knew that a hypnotic- 

 ally inclined snake would choose just such an open- 

 ing through which to reach its victims. 



Scarcely had the visitors closed their eyes for 

 slumber when some live thing fell with a sickening 

 thud on the chest of the most timid guest; it is 

 fortunate her heart was sound or it would have 

 ceased to beat. 



Hardly daring to breathe, much less to scream 

 for help, the frightened urbanite lay quiet. How 

 heavy the serpent's coil seemed to be ! Gradually 

 her eyes became accustomed to the darkness, and 

 then she saw that the cause of her fright was only 

 pretty Fanny Flying Squirrel squatting on the cov- 

 erlet washing her face with her little hands. 



