no DENIZENS OF THE DESERT 



be sure, he felt a little clumsy as his sides began 

 to swell, but what of that. Was it not the 

 day of feasting and abandon? Consequences 

 could now go to the four winds, at least for once. 



Now, there are times when even a wild 

 creature can eat too much and be too greedy 

 for his own good. The round-tailed chipmunk 

 found it out this very day and almost paid for 

 his feast with his life. 



The approach of a coyote who was foolishly 

 nosing about had sent him on his heels toward 

 one of the holes of the colony to which he be- 

 longed. He had purposely remained fairly close 

 to home; for he was aware of the danger that 

 accompanied distant excursions. His prowess 

 as a runner had always been good and he now 

 trusted his legs to take him to his hole in a 

 hurry. But, alas, he had taken on too much 

 "ballast." His distended stomach made it 

 almost impossible for him to drag himself away. 

 However, his sense of extreme danger spurred 

 him on to unusual activity and he finally 

 reached his hole. But now, but now, just when he 

 thought himself about to safety, he found that 

 though the nose and neck went down the hole 



