CHAPTER XII
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 hecould 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.