THE ARMADILLO 
21 
“Come on, let’s go away,” suggested Uncle Ely. 
“He will not loosen his shell as long as we are here.” 
They walked on a short distance. Uncle Ely looked 
at the children and held his finger over his mouth, 
signaling them to be quiet. They began to walk 
without rustling leaves and sticks. Uncle Ely was in 
the lead. He moved very slowly. Suddenly he 
stopped, and again motioned to the children to be 
very quiet. He knelt down so that he could whisper 
to them. 
“Sh'h'h-h! Look right over there, through that 
green bush. Part the leaves quietly so you can see.” 
Buck and Ginger slowly separated the leaves and 
peered through. In a little clearing not far away was 
a strangedooking family. A mother and four babies 
were nosing into the chips and leaves and grass. 
The mother was no bigger than a small dog, and 
the babies were about the size of kittens. They had 
long pointed noses, short little legs with claws, and 
long tails. They had no hair or fur. But they had ar^ 
mor, as did the fellow who was shaped like a basket' 
ball. 
These, however, were not rolled into balls. Their 
armor had been unfolded, and their bodies were long, 
much like pigs as Uncle Ely had said. They were also 
