Wongo And The Wise Old Crow — Cho-gay Of Timbertangle 1: An Indian Boy Ruler, The Fox And The Wolf

AN INDIAN BOY RULER

_This story, dear reader--in you I’ll confide-- Contains a most terrible plot!

Of this I inform you, and you can decide Just whether to read it or not.

_ _It’s a tale of a wild and wondrous land;

An account of a man-cub bold, Whose life is sought by a desperate band-- So here is the tale as it’s told!

_ There were several stories, each supposed to be a true account, of how Cho-gay, the lone Indian boy, came to live among the Black Hills of Timbertangle, a wild, secluded country, where no other man-animal ever had lived.

Probably Kaw, the crow, alone knew the truth.

That wise old bird, who seemed to know almost everything, had told the animals how, several summers before, he had seen a curious brown spot floating down one of the flood-swollen streams, clinging to a mass of brush.

Upon investigation, the spot had proven to be a small Indian man-child and, when the brush had caught to a branch overhanging the stream from the shore, the little creature had finally crawled to land.

From that day to this, Cho-gay had lived in Timbertangle, seeming to be as much at home among the animals as he could have been among his own people.

Where he had come from no one knew, but he was accepted on friendly terms by all--except the gray-wolf pack.

He was looked upon as having strange power, that was, somehow, greater even than the power of tooth and claw, for his hands did many things that clumsy beaks and paws could not do.

Before the coming of Cho-gay, Kil-fang, the leader of the gray-wolf pack, had been the feared and despised ruler of the Black Hills, but Cho-gay had one day put secret fear into his heart.

The wolf saw a strange deep look in the eyes of the Indian boy that he greatly disliked and could not understand.

Twice had Kil-fang tried to make Cho-gay understand that he alone must rule among all the animal people of the hills, but each time Cho-gay had looked him in the eyes with that strange, steady gaze, and had walked slowly toward him until the wolf had lost power to do anything but slink back, and back, and finally turn away.

Thereupon this man-child had grunted and had made a quick snapping noise with his fingers, which somehow seemed to mean that he, and not Kil-fang, was the one with power to lead.

All this pleased the other animals greatly, for they loved Cho-gay, because they had learned that he was just, and they despised the great wolf, because he thought of nothing but to kill and eat.

And now all knew that Kil-fang had found one who did not fear him--one who had greater power--and all knew that this meant that the wolf must leave the Black Hills with his pack or lose all power over it.

So, with jealous rage in his heart, Kil-fang had taken his followers into the north, vowing that he would return with a mightier pack, that would eat up the thin-skinned Cho-gay, and all others who might be so foolish as to dispute his power, or stand in the way of the wolf-pack.

Two winters had passed and, with these years of added strength and experience, the Indian boy had established a kind of rule and order among the animal people of the hills.

One morning, in the short sunny days of the fall, Cho-gay squatted on a flat-topped rock near the entrance to his cave--a snug little hole at the base of a mountain--and scraped the fat from a fresh bobcat pelt with a sharp flint knife.

As he labored he mumbled under his breath as if addressing the skin: “I wouldn’t have killed you, old Short-tail, but the cold of the white frost comes soon, and the warm skin must be changed from your back to mine.

Now that you have gone dead, you have no need of it, but as I am alive I can use it with much good.

You were filled with the long years of much living, for I find very little fat on your skin, and you could have hunted not much longer--one more season, maybe.

But I, I am young.

Kaw says that no more than twelve winters have gone since I came to life, and I am filled with strength to hunt, and it may be I will have to fight, if the evil Kil-fang and his miserable pack come from the north to keep the vow Kil-fang has made.

But Kil-fang is all growl, and is filled with much bragging talk; in his heart is fear, and it is fear of Cho-gay.

” As a small black shadow flashed across the rock beside him, Cho-gay looked up in time to see a large black crow alight on the limb of an old juniper tree that stood near by.

From this perch the bird looked down on the man-child, nodding gravely.

[Illustration: _Cho-gay scraped the pelt of a bobcat with a knife_] “Welcome, Brother Kaw,” said the boy.

“Many days have passed since you and I have met.

” Kaw made no immediate reply, but looked steadily at the bobcat skin.

Then, in a deep, serious voice, he said: “So _this_ is the end of old Short-tail--the most noble bobcat that ever robbed a grouse’s nest or gobbled up young crows.

And Cho-gay, the friend of all animals, the leader of Timbertangle, has slain him.

” Although the Indian boy detected a teasing note in Kaw’s voice, the reference to his friendship for all animals produced an unhappy feeling within him, and rising to his full height on the rock he replied: “The cold of winter comes; Cho-gay must have covering for warmth.

There was no anger in my heart for old Short-tail.

He was both old and lame, and is it not wiser that _I_ have his skin for good use than that it should be in the greedy stomach of Yap-kii the coyote?

Soon he, or one of his family, would have hunted him down and eaten him.

” “Yes,” said Kaw, solemnly, “what you say may be true, but he was _such_ a good friend of all birds.

He would do most _anything_ for them.

How he _loved_ them!

” Then in a sad voice he sang: “Oh, here lies the skin of old Bobtail, the cat;

Our loving old friend is no more.

When I think of his life, it surprises me that Someone didn’t kill him before!

” At this Cho-gay grinned, for he had half-feared that beneath the mock sadness of his friend was a rebuke for what he had done.

“To kill only where there is great need is an old law of the hills.

This you taught me yourself when I was yet very little, and I do not break the law,” said Cho-gay.

As he squatted down again to resume his work, a soft pad, pad of broad feet was heard coming down the trail that led along the mountain side, and Kaw remarked, “Here comes our friend Wongo, the bear.

I’ll wager that curiosity or hunger brings him here, for he always is filled with curiosity, even when empty of food.

” Cho-gay looked over his shoulder as the little bear came up, and called out, “Welcome, brother Wongo!

Had you come sooner you would have heard a good rhyming talk from the mouth of our friend Kaw.

It may be that he will again say it.

” [Illustration: _“Welcome, Brother Kaw,” said Cho-gay_] “If the rhyming talk was the kind he makes about _me_, I don’t think I missed much,” said the little bear crossly.

Then, as he seated himself on the rock, he caught sight of the bobcat skin, and with eyes wide with wonder he exclaimed: “Who is it that leaves his hide for another to use?

Did you kill him in a fair fight, or in a trap?

Was he--” But the voice of Kaw broke in before the last question was finished: “Did you?

Was he?

Oh what and who?

How very inquisitive are we.

Oh, we must know all about all that you do, For we’re curious as curious can be.

” “Well, if _that’s_ the kind of silly talk you were making before I came, I’m glad I did not hear it,” said Wongo.

“It’s too bad you can’t appreciate the work of a real poet,” said Kaw sadly, “but I suppose when one is hungry his judgment is affected.

” At a sudden noise, half bark and half whine, that came from a point a little above the cave’s entrance, Cho-gay rose, picked up a handful of the fat that had been scraped from the skin, and went up to a flat rock on the hillside.

Moving the stone ever so little, he called out: “Stop the noise, you little sharp-nosed thief!

Your whining will bring all the fox family here to ask questions why I have shut you up.

Here is all you get this day,” he added as he tossed the fat through the crack.

“Many days will go before _you_ are out.

Twice you have been a thief, and this time you will be a long time behind the rock so that you will learn that it is not good to steal the dried meat from Cho-gay.

” Kaw and Wongo watched this performance with great interest, and the little bear wanted to ask many questions, but he feared the teasing remarks that would surely follow.

As it turned out, he heard all that he wanted to know without asking.

After the fox had been silenced with the scraps of fat, two other prisoners were visited and fed; one an old mountain sheep, and the other a young bobcat.

At the hole, or small cave, where the sheep was confined, the Indian boy spoke to his prisoner: “Old Twisted-horns, three more days and you will again run over the hills as honest people run, but if you again steal corn from me your skin will become a covering for the floor in the cave of Cho-gay.

” The old sheep made no reply, but ate what was given him in sullen silence.

At the prison of the bobcat the Indian boy peered in through the crack beside the slab of rock that served as a door, and then picked up a rope of stout buckskin that ran into the prison from the outside.

As he pulled it there came an angry snarl from within.

“So!

” exclaimed Cho-gay.

“You are still filled with anger.

I will not take the rope from your neck until you speak more softly.

I know the hole is too small for you, but here you shall remain until old Twisted-horns is free.

Then you will go into _his_ house, but you shall not be free until Cho-gay has taught you to keep the laws of Timbertangle.

” As he returned to his work in front of his cave, the Indian boy remarked to his callers, “While Cho-gay lives in the Black Hills all thieves that are caught will be made to obey the law of the hills.

There was great anger in Big-paw, the cat, when he caught himself in the rope trap, yet he was stealing meat from my cave when the rope went round his head.

When I came he wanted to fight, but a twist and a quick pull, and Cho-gay had him without breath to snarl.

Now he shall not go free until the hunger in his stomach has eaten up his anger.

They that steal shall be punished.

Is it not a just law, my brothers?

” “It is just,” said Kaw.

“Yes, it has the _sound_ of being just,” said Wongo, “but when there is hunger and poor hunting, the hunter must have food.

” At this remark, Kaw cocked his head on one side and looked keenly at the little bear.

Then he said, “About an hour ago, while I was flying over the twin hills, I saw an aged mountain sheep who had been driven from the flock by the young rams.

” “Where was that?

” asked Wongo eagerly, as he got to his feet.

“On the cliffs above the aspen trees, on the south side of the first hill,” said Kaw.

Scarcely were the last words of the crow spoken before the little bear was speeding away toward the place where Kaw had seen the sheep.

“I have sharp eyes,” said Cho-gay, addressing the crow, “but how is it that you have eyes that can see hunger in the stomach of a bear?

” “Have you not learned that hunger makes all of us cross?

It is only when our friend Wongo is very hungry that he is cross, and we do not have to _see_ crossness.

We sometimes hear it.

Hunger will not take the anger away from Big-paw, the cat.

If you feed him and give him more room he will soon lose his anger,” continued Kaw, “and it is because he is a captive, and not because of hunger, that he will learn to be honest.

” “Your words have the sound of wisdom,” said the Indian boy, rising, “and I shall see if they are not true.

” [Illustration] Going up to the flat rock that covered the entrance to the prison of the old mountain sheep, he rolled it to one side.

A moment later the astonished sheep leaped out and dashed away up the side of the mountain.

Kaw watched this performance with keenest interest.

Passing on to the prison of the bobcat, Cho-gay picked up the buckskin rope with one hand and drew his knife from his belt with the other.

Then pulling the flat stone from the mouth of the hole he gave the rope a sudden pull.

The bobcat came tumbling out, and before it could regain its feet it was dragged to the former prison of the mountain sheep, too dazed to realize what had happened before it was in new quarters and the stone door lifted into place.

“Very quickly and neatly done,” said Kaw, in admiration.

Then he added in a low tone to himself, “Our friend Wongo should have good hunting to-day, for if he should miss the old sheep on the cliff, he will surely get old Twisted-horns, who is making for the same place.

” As the Indian boy returned to his cave to get food for the young bobcat, there arose the sound of many yapping voices from the sagebrush below.

“News!

News for Brother Cho-gay!

” came the voices.

A thin, sharp-nosed coyote emerged from the edge of the sage and stood a little in the open, as though he feared to come nearer.

Then the heads of three or four of his followers were poked from the brush, as though to lend support to their timid leader, and to see the great man-child to whom their remarks had been addressed.

“News is of no use until it is told,” said Cho-gay.

“Speak up, Brother Fearful.

What is there to tell?

” “Is it not a law among us that if one makes a lie, and tells it against a brother, he shall be punished?

” asked Fearful.

“It is a law,” replied Cho-gay.

“Who is it that breaks the law?

” “It is Sandy, the red fox, who has made a great lie, saying that he has flown like an eagle from the valley to the top of Skull-top mountain, and that as he left the top to come down, a rock fell and rolled down to the valley.

And that our old cousin, Rip, the outcast wolf, who is very brave, ran in great fear, believing that the mountain was tumbling down.

So our cousin Rip is made a coward in the eyes of all, because of the lie.

” “Where is your cousin Rip that he does not come to accuse the fox?

” asked Cho-gay.

“He and Sandy hunt together, and he is afraid to make Sandy angry.

Why, we know not,” answered Fearful.

At the sound of a chuckle from the juniper tree, Cho-gay looked up to see Kaw shaking with laughter.

Paying no heed to this, he again spoke to the coyote: “All know that a fox cannot fly through the air to a mountain top.

Go, bring this maker of lies to me and we shall hear his story from his own mouth.

” This order was evidently what the coyotes wanted, for they quickly vanished into the brush.

When they had gone, Kaw could scarce contain himself for mirth.

Anticipating the scene that would follow when Sandy, the fox, faced Cho-gay, he hopped up and down as he sang: “’Tis a funny old world, for often I see The right of a thing turned about, And when it occurs, then we say ‘it can’t be,’ Till proof makes it true without doubt.

” As the old crow spread his wings to depart, Cho-gay asked, “Does that rhyming talk mean that a fox might fly?

” “It might!

” said Kaw from over his wing as he flew away.

CHAPTER 2 THE FOX AND THE WOLF

In the afternoon of the day following the visit of the coyotes to the cave of Cho-gay, a dapper little red fox and a gaunt, one-eyed, old timber-wolf trotted over a narrow trail that led along the rim of a canyon.

They were Sandy, or Red-eagle Fox, as he loved to call himself, and Rip, the veteran outcast of a once great pack.

Why this strange pair hunted together was a mystery to all but Kaw, the crow.

He knew that it was because the conceited little fox, who never tired of boasting of his supposed skill as a hunter, felt it a great compliment to be permitted to hunt with a real wolf, and that old Rip endured the companionship of the boastful little fox for the simple reason that when game is to be found, two sharp, young eyes are better than one old one.

In truth, the old wolf knew that his days of hunting alone were gone.

The alert little fox, filled with false pride and great vanity, formed a strange contrast to Rip, for even a casual observer would have noticed that the old wolf had passed a long way beyond the prime of life.

Old Rip’s left eye had been lost in one of the numerous battles he had been called upon to fight, but the right eye still retained some of its former fire; a part of one ear was missing, but he could hear with it very well.

As he ran, it could be seen that his joints were not just as limber as they once had been.

His greatest characteristic was an insatiable appetite; he was always hungry.

But, in spite of all this, he was a wolf, and that fact made him great in the eyes of Sandy, the fox.

While on hunting trips, the luck of this strange pair was a very uncertain thing, but usually the little fox managed to catch a rabbit or some birds, and old Rip was always careful to pay his partner some gruff compliment before devouring the larger portion of the game.

Secretly Kaw enjoyed the fox and wolf, as they afforded him many a quiet chuckle, of which they were ignorant.

Because of his interest, Kaw frequently helped them to find game when hunting was poor, and the two learned to look upon him as a valued friend.

On this particular afternoon, the hunters were in no pleasant mood, for it was growing late and they had killed nothing since early morning but a small grouse, which did not satisfy their appetite for long.

[Illustration: _Sandy, the fox, and Old Rip, the timber-wolf_] As they stuck close to the trail, it was evident that, though hungry, they were on some business other than hunting.

“How much farther is it to this bear’s den?

” growled Rip, who was beginning to weary of the journey.

“Only a little way now,” replied the fox.

“Soon we will go up the mountain side a short distance, and then we are there.

” The old wolf made no reply to this, but trotted doggedly along after his companion.

Wishing to turn Rip’s thoughts to less tiresome things than trails and distances, the little fox asked, “How did you learn that Kil-fang and his pack are returning to the Black Hills?

” “I have ears, haven’t I?

” growled Rip.

“When there is news of a kill abroad, I hear of it, and there will be good hunting for many of us when the pack comes down the north canyon.

All animals will run over the hills to the broad valley to get out of the way of Kil-fang, and it is there _I_ shall be before them.

” “I also will be there,” remarked the fox, and each of these brave hunters had visions of the great number of rabbits, squirrels, and small animals that would swarm over the hills and into the valley to the east, as the wolf pack came through the canyon that opened into the Black Hill region on the north.

“When does the pack come?

” asked the fox.

“Yap-kii, the coyote, gave me the news,” replied Rip, “and he says the pack now numbers more than fifty, and that they will come into the Black Hills when the moon is again at the full.

I have no liking for this Cho-gay, but I have less for the strutting Kil-fang, and I shall howl the death howl with great happiness if the Indian man-child kills him and drives his boastful pack again into the north.

” “It is not many days from now that the moon is at the full,” said the fox, “no more than a dozen, at most.

Does anyone but Yap-kii and you know about the coming of the pack?

” “No one,” replied Rip, “for he does not dare to tell Fearful and his brothers, as they talk too much, and the rabbits and squirrels have sharp ears.

” Suddenly a voice that came from the limb of a cottonwood tree above their heads called out: “Two bold, brave hunters are we, As all who will look can see.

To fight the fierce rabbit, With us is a habit;

We fear nothing that’s smaller than we-- Let’s see-- We mean smaller and _weaker_ than we!

” At the sound of Kaw’s voice, for it was he, the spirits of the two hungry hunters began to rise, for _now_ there was hope of finding something to eat.

“Where are we going, so far from home, on so fine an afternoon?

” inquired the crow.

Then without waiting for a reply, he continued, “I’ll guess you are just out for a quiet stroll after eating a nice meal of fat mountain sheep and jack-rabbit.

” At the mention of such delicious food old Rip licked his chops, and the little fox squirmed uneasily.

As usual he spoke for the two: “We certainly _would_ have had a fine meal if we had been on one of our regular hunting trips, for as you know I always bag my game, and there is no greater hunter than--” “Then you have had poor hunting to-day?

” broke in Kaw, who did not care to hear the boastful remarks that he knew the little fox was getting ready to make.

“Yes, that’s just it,” replied the little fox.

“As I was saying, we are on our way to make an important call, and though we have come a great distance, there has been nothing good to eat within sight or sound of us since dawn.

” At that moment the keen eyes of the old crow caught sight of a short line of moving animals far back along the canyon rim, but though his eyes twinkled as he realized that Fearful and his brothers were trailing the little fox, to tell him of Cho-gay’s order, he said nothing to the two hunters, who were ignorant of the fact that they were being followed.

“Well,” said Kaw, “as I flew over the sage that is just around the point ahead of you, I saw a number of jack-rabbits that were headed up the mountain.

If you cut in above the trail you will head them off!

” Instantly the two hunters sprang forward toward the place indicated, each trying to be first, and neither remembering to thank the old crow for the information he had given them.

“So they are making an important call,” said Kaw to himself, as he watched the odd pair loping away up the mountain side.

“It’s quite plain who they are calling upon.

I wonder what kind of a plot is in the wind now.

” Then he looked back far down the canyon trail, where the small line of coyotes were slowly approaching, and chuckled to himself as he flew off over the mountain.

Less than half an hour later, Rip and Sandy had managed to kill two jack-rabbits, and were trotting along the well-worn little trail that led to the cave of Wongo, the bear.

Suddenly the fox, who was in the lead, stopped beside some jack-oak bushes and spoke to his companion: “You can wait here, friend Rip, while I talk to Wongo, for you see he must not know that you are in this plan of ours.

If he learns that you are interested in the escape of the mountain sheep, or I should say in eating the sheep after it has escaped, he would tell Cho-gay.

If this Indian man-child hears of it, you would never get the sheep, and my brother might not be set free in time to escape Kil-fang and his pack.

” “I keep my word,” replied Rip, who was in a better humor after the meal of the jack-rabbit.

“But remember,” he added warningly, “I am to have the mountain sheep in return for telling you the news of Kil-fang and the pack.

Go on; I’ll wait for you here.

” Sandy trotted up the trail, leaving his companion, who was glad enough to rest his weary bones after so long a journey.

A few minutes later the fox, after announcing his presence with a short bark, poked his head into the bear’s cave and called out, “A good evening to you, Brother Wongo.

I hope I am not interrupting a nap.

” “No,” replied the little bear, who was suddenly curious to know why Sandy was so far from his own hunting grounds, “but I am just getting ready to take a walk into the canyon.

What brings you to the cave of Wongo?

” “I have just been on one of my famous hunting trips,” replied Sandy.

“I often make long journeys when in search of big game, for, as you may know, I am one of the greatest--” “All right,” cut in Wongo, who had learned from Kaw about Sandy’s habit of boasting, “but what brings you here?

” “As I was just saying,” replied the fox, “I was passing this way, and thought I’d just drop in to see you, and perhaps ask a question or two that you might be able to answer.

” Sandy looked anxiously at the little bear.

“Go on,” said Wongo, whose curiosity was growing.

“I have just heard that you visited the cave of Cho-gay, the man-child, yesterday, and it may be that you can tell me something about him.

They say that he has many animals that he keeps as prisoners in little holes in the rocks near his cave, and that he does not let them out.

Is it so?

” “He has only three animals,” replied Wongo, “and he keeps them shut up because they steal, and so have not kept the law.

One is a mountain sheep, who stole his corn, another is a young bobcat, who stole or tried to steal dried meat from his cave, and the third is a fox who has twice stolen from him, but will not steal again very soon.

” The little fox remained silent for a few moments, not knowing just how to gain the real information he had come for, but just as the impatient Wongo was about to ask him to go on, he remarked, “All say that this Cho-gay knows all animal talk, that he can do strange things, and that he carries a long, sharp claw with which he can kill very quickly when he wishes to.

Is it so?

” “That he can do strange things is true, and the thing you call a claw is a knife,” said Wongo, and he took on a superior air as he gave this information, for he was quite proud of his knowledge of Cho-gay.

“Could he kill the gray-wolf pack if it should come?

” asked Sandy.

“That is a silly question,” replied Wongo.

“No one could kill the pack single handed, unless he had as many heads and as many teeth as the pack, and of course we know that no such animal lives in Timbertangle.

” “Would Cho-gay shut _me_ up if I went to tell him something he would like to hear?

” inquired Sandy.

“No, if what you tell is true.

But why not tell me, who knows him, and I can tell him for you,” suggested the little bear, whose curiosity was now thoroughly aroused.

“No,” replied Sandy, “I have reasons why I must tell him myself; I have valuable information to give him and--well, it _may_ be that I will ask him for something in return.

” “Oh, very well,” said Wongo with pretended indifference.

“I can’t see that the matter concerns me, so I will bid you good----” “Yes, yes!

” broke in the fox quickly, “It _does_ concern you, as I want you to take me to this Cho-gay, for I have never seen him except from a great distance and--well, you could tell him who I am, you know, and that we are close friends, and about my reputation as a great----” “Ho, ho!

” grunted Wongo.

“You mean that we are _acquainted_ because we both happen to be friends of Kaw, the crow.

” “Just that,” said the fox, who wished to be very agreeable to the little bear.

“By the way, did you happen to hear Cho-gay say just when he expected to free the mountain sheep and the fox?

” “Yes,” replied Wongo, who was anxious to show his caller that he knew a great deal about the doings of the ruler of the Black Hills, “I heard him say that the mountain sheep is to go free in three days, that’s the day after to-morrow, but the fox is to be kept for a long time, as he is a great thief and has twice broken the law.

” The little fox squirmed uneasily when the last statement was made, but his uneasiness escaped the notice of the bear.

“But what has all that to do with the great secret that you have to tell Cho-gay?

” asked Wongo.

“You will learn all that if you will just agree to accompany me to his cave, and if you would--well, just tell him that I am Red-eagle Fox, the hunter.

” Wongo made no reply for some time, merely for the impressive effect his silence would have on his caller.

“Yes,” he said at length, “although it is a long, hard trip from here to Cho-gay’s cave, and I have no love for long trips, I can see no great reason why I should not do you the favor to accompany you.

Then, too, Cho-gay may want my advice.

” Before Sandy could make any reply to this, five silent gray figures suddenly appeared in a semi-circle behind him and Fearful, the coyote, spoke.

“Brother Sandy is wanted by our leader, the Indian man-child.

There is a tale that our brother, the fox, has been telling and Cho-gay would hear it from his own mouth.

” At this announcement the little fox began to swell with pride, and all interest in Wongo vanished.

“Ah, it is well that you bring me word from our great leader, Brother Fearful.

” Then turning to Wongo, “I will not need your company after all, Wongo, so I will bid you good-day.

” “Well, I will be glad to accompany you anyway,” said Wongo hastily, as he followed his caller out of the cave entrance, for he had no intention of missing the chance to learn what mysterious news Sandy had for Cho-gay.

“It will not be necessary now that he has sent for me,” replied Sandy.

“I fully intended to visit Cho-gay again very soon, anyway, Brother Sandy, and it suits me just as well to go along with you now.

Of course,” added the little bear, “he will see no one until the sun is up, and we could not get to his cave much before dawn.

” [Illustration: _“Brother Sandy is wanted,” said Fearful_] “Don’t trouble yourself about it,” said the fox coolly, “for I am sure he will not want any but very important members of Timbertangle to hear the news I have for him.

” With this he started down the trail followed by the five coyotes.

The little bear watched them depart and decided that _he_ would be at the cave of Cho-gay before them.

After he had given them time to get a good start down the trail, he ambled down the path thinking of all that had taken place and wondering what could be the great news that Sandy had to tell.

So occupied was he with his thoughts, he did not notice a black object perched on the low limb of a tree near the trail, but he looked up as a voice sang out: “Oh, here comes a bear; a pigeon-toed bear, And _that_ is as plain as can be.

He lives in a den, it’s really a pen, And _I’d_ much rather live in a tree;

That’s me!

It’s much nicer to live in a tree.

“Wherever he goes, he turns in his toes, Except when he scratches and bites, And it’s sad to relate, he’s often out late!

Oh, what does he do with his nights?

Just fights!

Yes, _that’s_ what he does with his nights!

” “I don’t either,” growled Wongo, pretending to be angry at his old friend, “and my cave isn’t a pen either.

But what could a squawking old crow know about caves?

” “I believe I smell a wolf,” said Kaw, changing the subject, and he stuck his beak in the air in imitation of animals who sniff for a scent.

“Yes,” said Wongo, as he too sniffed the air, “I hadn’t noticed it before, but I too smell a wolf.

Sandy the fox just stopped at my cave a few minutes ago to ask me to take him to the cave of Cho-gay, but that old one-eyed partner of his was not with him.

” “No?

” queried Kaw, with a chuckle.

Then he cocked his head on one side and continued: “Well, it’s just as I thought, There’s a gay little plot;

It’ll be about something to eat, And there’s some axe to grind, As we’re sure to find;

No doubt in exchange for fresh meat.

” “What do you mean by all that string of words?

” asked Wongo.

“Nothing, nothing very important,” replied Kaw.

“We’ll soon see for ourselves.

Did Fearful, the coyote, come to your cave while Sandy was there?

” “Yes, he did,” said Wongo.

“There were four other coyotes with him, and they told Sandy that Cho-gay wanted to see him about some important matter.

What’s it all about?

Do you know?

” “I suspect I know something about it,” said Kaw, “but not enough to tell.

When do Sandy and the coyotes and Rip, the wolf, go to see Cho-gay?

” “I don’t know about old Rip,” said Wongo, “but Sandy and the coyotes have started to-night and I am going too, but I expect to be there when they arrive.

” “Well, you can bet that the old wolf is trailing along after them.

The old rascal was with Sandy to-day, and there is some good reason why they did not want you to know that he was around.

Did the fox say anything about things they are planning to kill or eat?

” “No,” replied Wongo, “he only asked if I knew when Cho-gay intended to free old Twisted-horns, the mountain sheep, and the fox that are shut up in the rocks near Cho-gay’s cave.

” “What did you tell him?

” asked Kaw.

“I told him that the sheep was to be free in three days, and the fox was to be kept prisoner for a long time, as he had twice broken the law.

” “By the way,” said Kaw, “I see from your good humor that you must have had good hunting yesterday.

Did you find the old mountain sheep on the cliffs?

” “No, I didn’t find him on the cliffs, or near the aspen trees.

But I got him.

I must have passed him on the way up, for when I had given up hope of finding him, I turned back down the trail and near the bottom of the hills I ran right into him.

He was coming up so fast he didn’t see me.

Those young rams in his flock must be good at fighting to turn him out of the flock, for he didn’t look like any outcast.