University of Virginia Library

21. XXI
SISTER SALLIE'S ADVENTURE

SISTER SALLIE was walking in the woods with the corncob doll Billie and Johnnie had made her. It was the first time she had gone out alone since coming to the Bushytail home, and she felt that she was getting to be quite a big girl, indeed. She had her doll in a carriage made from a last year's bird's-nest, with pieces of wood that the little boy squirrels had gnawed out for wheels. But the wheels were not exactly round, and when Sister Sallie wheeled the carriage it went along with an up-and-down wabbly-motion. At first you might think that rather odd, but the corncob doll liked

it, for the carriage was like a carriage and cradle made into one.

Now you boys needn't stop reading this story, because you think it's going to be all about dolls and girls and doll carriages. Something is going to happen pretty soon, and Johnnie and Billie are going to have a fight. You just wait a minute and you'll see.

Well, now, to go back to where I left off. Sister Sallie was wheeling her doll through the woods, when, all at once, when she was quite a way from home, what should happen but that she heard a savage voice calling to her from behind a big stump:

“Here! Where did you get that corncob doll?”

Oh, what an ugly voice it was, and how poor Sister Sallie shivered and shook and trembled with fear! She stood right still,

and looked all around, and what should come from behind the stump but a big rat, with sharp teeth that showed when he moved his whiskers to and fro.

“Where did you get that corncob?” he asked again. “Give it to me this instant! It's mine!”

“If you please,” said Sister Sallie, “I — I don't think it can be yours, kind sir. Billie and Johnnie gave it to me, kind sir.” You see, she said “kind sir” twice because she thought it would please the old rat, and he wouldn't hurt her. But do you suppose he cared for that? Not in the least. He just showed his teeth more than ever, and he growled just like a dog, would you believe me? He did, indeed!

“Give me that corncob!” he said again, oh, so cross! “I was wondering who took it. There are some kernels of corn on it that I have been looking for.”

“Oh, no, indeed, there are no kernels on this cob, kind sir, kind sir,” replied Sallie, still trembling. “Besides, Johnnie and Billie got this from a kind rat, and — — ”

“What's that? Don't you think I'm a kind rat?” cried the old fellow, wiggling his whiskers, just like a fan on a hot day.

“Well, you — you don't seem to be very kind,” spoke Sister Sallie.

“You give me my corncob!” cried the rat, crosser than ever. “Johnnie and Billie, whoever they are, had no right to take it. I'm not afraid of them, nor half a dozen like them!”

Then what should he do but rush right at the doll carriage and grab up Sister Sallie's doll. Then the little girl squirrel screamed and tried to grab her dollie away from that bad rat. You see, he was a bad rat, and not the pretty good rat that had given Billie and

Johnnie permission to take the cob. It just shows you how mean a rat can be when he tries real hard. But I know a good rat, and some day I will tell you about him.

Where was I? Oh, I remember. The rat had just grabbed Sister Sallie's doll. He started to carry it off, but when the little squirrel caught it away from him, he turned on her, and grasped her in his mouth. Now what do you think about that? Yes, sir, that's just what he did. Only he took her by the back of the neck, just as you lift up a kitten, and it didn't hurt her hardly any, only, of course, she was very frightened. Then the rat started to carry her off to his den — O. No. I don't exactly mean that. It was the fox, and his dear little foxes, Eight, Nine, Ten, who lived in a den — O.

But just as the rat was carrying Sister Sallie off, what happened but that out from the

woods rushed Billie and Johnnie Bushytail. Right at that bad, ugly rat they rushed, and they had their bows and arrows with them!

“Shoot him!” cried Johnnie.

“Hit him!” yelled Billie.

“Save me! Oh, save me!” pleaded Sister Sallie.

“Don't be afraid, we'll save you!” declared Johnnie.

Then he put an arrow to his bow, and he shot that rat on the nose. And Billie, he put an arrow to his bow, and he shot the rat on the left ear. That made the rat so mad that he dropped Sister Sallie, and rushed right at Billie and Johnnie. But they weren't a bit afraid, no indeed! They stood there, and shot some more arrows at the rat. Then they didn't have any left, and the rat was still rushing at them, and they hardly knew what to do until Billie took his bow

and hit him over the head. Then Johnnie took his bow and also hit that bad rat over the head, until the old fellow gave a squeal — oh! such a squeal! — and ran away. So that is how Johnnie and Billie saved Sister Sallie from the adventure. Then they took her home, after her heart stopped beating so fast. Papa and Mamma Bushytail praised the two little boy squirrels, who happened to be out hunting when they came upon the rat carrying Sister Sallie away, and Mamma Bushytail gave them some maple sugar hickory nuts to eat. And after that Sallie never went out alone. Now, if the wind should be in the south to-morrow night, you shall hear how Billie kept store.