OLD SPOTTED TAIL

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 983, 28 May 1930, Page 16

OLD SPOTTED TAIL

Old Spotted Tail, great-grandfather of all ttoe rabbits in the Greentown Fields, was a wise old rabbit. He knew all the tracks about the fields, all the best clover patches; knew just how far away from the fields it was safe to stray. He knew all the dangers of a rabbit’s life and how to avoid them; at least, all except one—the steel trap. To all the young rabbits he taught the precautions of life; to avoid men in general and men with guns in particular; to keep out of sight of dogs, and all the little things which a rabbit should know. Many a time he had warned the young rabbits about gambolling in toe moonlight, but they never would listen to his warnings. Then one night, all unknown, several men with guns and dogs hid themselves in the bushes. When the rabbits came out, running and jumping, their guns and dogs played havoc among them. Old Spotted Tail shook his wise old head; such happenings as this he had seen before, and he had expected it. but young rabbits are no different from other young creatures in one respect—they will not be warned. Next morning the men came again, but this time they merely dug up bits of ground and buried things which were tied, to stakes, leaving loose soil over the top of these things. The rabbits were now very frightened and they kept away from that part of the field, all except Spotted Tail, that is; he had never seen anything like this before, so he went out to investigate. Seeing the loose soil he at once began to scratch. Then suddenly, “snap”—something sharp closed on his paw. He squealed in agony, but the others were too frightened to come to his assistance. Then a ferret came creeping along. Out of pity, perhaps, he gnawed through the rope which held the trap to the stake, and Old Spotted Tail crept away to shake off the cruel stf>el jaws which were clamped so tigh f on his paw. No rabbits were ca.ugut in those traps, and the men removed them; but for several days Old Spotted Tail walked with a limp. About a week later, Sharp Eyes, the ferret who had rescued Old Spott2d Tail, was creeping along as usual, stalking some bird for his breakfast. Unseen by him a big dog was following in his tracks. But Spotted Tail had spied this killer, and he did some quick thinking. He remembered that Sharp Eyes had saved his life, and he was determined to save his in return. He suddenly came to a conclusion and scampered out in front of the dog, so attracting his attention. The dog, seeing Spotted Tail bobbing along immediately in front of him, gave chase. Old Spotted Tail led him through numerous tracks, ending at a disused burrow. Diving in at the entrance, he sped along and out a back entrance on the other side of the hill. The dog now thought that he had Old Spotted Tail cornered, and he began digging, for he was too l>ig to go through as Spotted Tail had done Meanwhile Old Spotted Tail was heading homeward by another route. The dog soon grew tired of burrowing and gave up hope, starting off on some other scent. So Old Spotted Tail had achieved his end—he had saved Sharp Eyes’ life and had paid him back in full. —Little Stalker (Roy Neely).