82 
FINDING NATURE’S TREASURES 
“That is fine. I am sure you will remember it now,” 
laughed Uncle Jack. “Fred, pick it up.” 
“Will it bite me?” he asked. 
“Don’t get your fingers too close to its head.” 
Fred picked up the tortoise, and turned it over. 
“Where did his head go?” asked Bess. “I know he 
has one, because I saw it.” 
Buddy said, “That shell bottom has a door at each end. 
He pulls in his head, his legs, and his tail, and then closes 
the doors.” 
“Put him down on his back, Fred,” said Uncle Jack. 
“Then let’s hide behind a bush and watch him.” 
They did as Uncle Jack suggested. 
Nothing happened for a few minutes. Then they saw 
each end of the shell bottom move a little. Yes, it was 
just as Buddy had said. Each end had a little door. They 
saw the head and two legs stick out of one door, and two 
legs and a little tail out of the other. Slowly the head 
came out farther and farther. At last the nose touched 
the ground. The tortoise pushed his head against the 
ground and turned himself over on his feet. Then he 
began to crawl away. The children ran to catch him. 
When he saw them, back into his shell he went and closed 
the doors again. 
“He has a tight box to live in,” said Bess. 
“Yes, and so strong that not many things can hurt 
him. Can they, Uncle Jack?” asked Fred. 
“Very few things can hurt the tortoise when he is in 
his box, and he always has it with him,” replied Uncle 
