THE PRAIRIE-DOG TOWN 



Sam continued to visit the prairie-dog town 

 during the two years he lived near it. After a 

 time the little dwellers lost their fear of him and 

 a number of them were on very friendly terms 

 with him. When he came near they would 

 gather around for the food he never failed to 

 carry in his pockets for them. 



After the prairie fire had wiped away all their 

 food but the underground roots the little ani- 

 mals, forced by hunger, became more and more 

 friendly with Sam. One of the young dogs 

 even went so far as to crawl into his pocket and 

 help himself to the food and a number were 

 bold enough to come and eat from his hand. 



Even wild animal food was very scarce in 

 consequence of the widespread praire fires and 

 the settlers welcomed the flesh of the little 

 prairie dog, which in the young is really very 

 tender and good. One day while Sam was 

 making his customary visit to his four-footed 

 and most intimate friends he noticed a stranger 

 crawling behind some old prairie-dog hillocks 

 with a gun in his hand. Before Sam could stop 

 him he had shot one of the little fellows in a 

 path and another in front of his hillock. While 



