RED SLAYER AND THE TERROR 239 
science than a Prussian officer sleeping in a Bel- 
gian chateau. 
That was how Red Slayer achieved his snug, 
warm home beside the gray stone wall between 
the peaceful pastures and below the whispering 
forest. The house suited him, the neighborhood 
suited him. He settled down to become our most 
undesirable citizen. 
Shortly after a change began, not in his char- 
acter, but in his appearance. From a pretty 
reddish-brown above, with a whitish shirt front 
and belly, and a black tail tip, he changed to a 
curious mottled effect, especially odd on his tail, 
which was black for one third, brown for one 
third, and white for one third—a kind of pousse- 
café effect. This lasted while the ground was 
freezing and the early snows of November flying, 
until gradually the white triumphed, and Red 
Slayer emerged from his hole one morning of 
white glitter and dazzle, as white as the snow it- 
self, all except that last third of his tail, which 
remained a glossy black. His eyes, too, of course 
remained sloe-black. He was a lovely creature 
then, a bit of animated ermine, sleek and slim and 
