MOTHER CHIPMUNK’S ADVENTURE
THE Ranger was leading his horse down a steep trail one day, the dust
rising yellowly in the noon-day calm, when he came to an inviting bit
of shade and took out his lunch. For a time he munched his cheese
sandwiches with his mind on his work. His horse neighed thirstily, and
he led him to the spring, which trickled from the hillside.
As he turned back, he saw a chipmunk nervously gathering up his crumbs.
Standing so still that he hardly breathed, so as not to frighten her,
he watched while she darted forward, stopped to study him with her
beady eyes, then dared a few steps farther. At last she picked up a big
cracker crumb, and taking it in her handlike fore paws, began nibbling
as if she were starved.
A slight movement on the Ranger’s part sent her instantly to her hole,
but in a few minutes she was back again, eating ravenously and stuffing
her cheeks with crumbs to take home. But the crumbs had all been
cracker. The Ranger now threw her a morsel of cheese. This she found
delicious. Never in all her life had she tasted anything so good. And
it seemed as if she never could get enough to eat these days, for she
had a family of wee baby chipmunks that she nursed as a cat does her
kittens.
Next the Ranger held a piece of cheese between his thumb and finger.
She wriggled her nose longingly, and hesitated, darting forward a few
inches, now stopping in affright at what she had done, then getting up
courage for another step.
Long minutes the Ranger waited, with that inviting bit of cheese held
out to her at arm’s-length. So timid was she that he dared not even
turn his head. Closer, closer she crept, till at last she could just
get a frightened nibble. My, how good it was! Closer still she came,
till she was eating it out of his hand. She ate until he could feel
her warm, furry nose against his finger.
Making a sudden grab, he closed his hand around her. He hadn’t meant
to, but the temptation had been too much. He wanted first to stroke her
silky fur. Then he thought there could be no harm in taking her home in
his pocket to show the children. For he had been away when they caught
Chuck and Chipper. Of course he didn’t know about her babies.
Mother Chipmunk gave one shrill squeak of despair. Then she was
buttoned fast in the Ranger’s pocket, and he was riding farther and
farther away from those wee, helpless babes of hers in the hole under
the rock.