CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
11 
signs in the opening of their underground bungalows with the 
result that his pursuer gathers in this information before he is 
ever uncovered. 
Before Uncle Dave got wise to so many of the mysterious 
ways of this crafty serpent he completely lost the trail he was 
following. It came to an end upon ground where, in the light 
of all knowledge then in his possession, he felt that a very 
plain trail should have been left. The ground where the trail 
ended was covered with soft, white sand, but interspersed 
hither and yon with deposits of dead pine needles. Literally, 
as well as figuratively, he had come to the end of the trail. 
Deep in his heart he could not but feel that he had been out¬ 
witted, but how? That was the question. Before many moons 
he had another similar experience, but knowing already of their 
habit of continuing on their chosen course, he concluded he 
would continue in the direction he was so confident this fellow 
had taken. He did not have to go far before he came upon 
him. Regardless of all evidence to the contrary, he was con¬ 
fident that he had crossed over this roadway where he had 
observed the alternate deposits of sand and straw. Returning 
to the spot where he had lost the trail, he proceeded to examine 
it with the painstaking care of the secret police. Finding the 
spot on which he felt sure that a crossing had been effected, 
he proceeded to remove all loose straw without disturbing the 
surface of the soft sand beneath. When such operation had 
been performed, everything was clear. The trail was visible, 
but consisted of criss-cross markings of the straw upon the 
impressionable sand, the same width of the serpent he had just 
slain. With this information he could supply the remainder, 
i.e., why he had left no signs upon the sand spots. He had 
simply bridged these treacherous deposits of sand with his 
body in order that he might leave no evidence, realizing as 
he did that he was hotly pursued. Such operation required that 
he arch his body over these bare spots, bearing only upon the 
straw covered spots, thereby getting his traction without leav¬ 
ing the slightest visible impression. As he learned later, this 
was by no means an uncommon practice. In entering or leaving 
his hole, he climbs in and out over the back side where there is 
