HAIRY-TAILED PACK RATS 43 



THE REAL NATIVE COURAGE 



of our wild brothers in furs and feathers. If the 

 old mother rat's body trembled violently and her 

 chisel-like teeth chattered at the sight of the 

 t venomous snake, it was not with fear but rather 

 with righteous wrath. With her eyes fixed upon 

 the intruder the old pack rat's body seemed to 

 swell to abnormal proportions. She swayed slowly 

 from side to side and stamped the earth menac- 

 ingly with her little hand-like feet. 



I have often witnessed a snake strike with a 

 rapidity beyond the power of the human eye to 

 follow; but quicker than the movement of the 

 snake w r as the spring which transferred the mother 

 rat to a perch on the squirming body of the rat- 

 tler. All in vain did the rasping rattle sound its 

 dry vibrating threat of death; such was the fury 

 of the onslaught that the rodent's teeth not only 

 severed the snake's backbone, but the reptile's 

 head was stricken from its writhing body with the 

 dispatch and skill worthy of a professional heads- 

 man. 



The initial motive instinct or thought still con- 

 trolled the snake's body with its dire purpose, and 

 devoid of head, brains or weapons, the horrid 

 thing coiled and struck the rat again and again 

 with the bloody stump of its neck! 



Such was the tragedy which left little Paddy 

 sole heir to the horded stores of its parents. When 

 Paddy's eyes were opened he viewed with satisfac- 

 tion the soft hair which had begun to grow from 



