The Story of a Graysquirrel 

 nyek and lapped in a trice on Bannertail, 

 three times round, straining, crushing, 

 while his rows of cruel fangs were sunk 

 in the Squirrel's silvery side. 



But in throwing all his force against 

 Bannertail he released the little Gray 

 mother. She flung herself again on the 

 black horror, and bit with all her power 

 the head that was gripped on the shoulder 

 of her mate. Very narrow is the demon 

 reptile's head, and only one place was 

 open, offered to her grip. She bit with 

 all her force across the eyes, her long, V^ ^ff% 

 sharp chisels entered in. His eyes were 

 pierced, his brain was stung. With an 

 agonizing last convulsion he wrenched on 

 Bannertail, then, quivering with a palsy 

 that changed to a springing open of the 

 coils, he dashed his head from side to 

 side, lashed his tail, heaved this way and 

 that, coiled up, then straightened out. 

 The Squirrels leaped back, the monster 



[239] 



.-y-7 



