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THE TALE OF GRUMPY WEASEL
SLEEPY-TIME TALES (Trademark Registered)
BY ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY
AUTHOR OF TUCK-ME-IN TALES (Trademark Registered)
The Tale of Cuffy Bear The Tale of Frisky Squirrel The Tale of Tommy Fox The Tale of Fatty Coon The Tale of Billy Woodchuck The Tale of Jimmy Rabbit The Tale of Peter Mink The Tale of Sandy Chipmunk The Tale of Brownie Beaver The Tale of Paddy Muskrat The Tale of Ferdinand Frog The Tale of Dickie Deer Mouse The Tale of Timothy Turtle The Tale of Major Monkey The Tale of Benny Badger
Grumpy Weasel and Jimmy Rabbit Run a Race. _Frontispiece_(_Page 46_)]
SLEEPY-TIME TALES (Trademark Registered)
THE TALE OF GRUMPY WEASEL
BY ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY
Author of "TUCK-ME-IN TALES" (Trademark Registered)
ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY L. SMITH
NEW YORK
GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS
Made in the United States of America
COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY GROSSET & DUNLAP
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I A SLIM RASCAL 1
II AT THE OLD STONE WALL 5
III MASTER ROBIN'S LESSON 9
IV HUNTING A HOLE 13
V SOLOMON OWL INTERRUPTS 18
VI MR. MEADOW MOUSE ESCAPES 23
VII PADDY MUSKRAT'S BLUNDER 28
VIII THE DARE 33
IX SAVING HIS FEET 38
X HA! AND HA, HA! 42
XI A LONG RACE 46
XII WINNING BY A TRICK 51
XIII SILLY MRS. HEN 56
XIV GRUMPY VANISHES 60
XV THE GREAT MYSTERY 64
XVI GUARDING THE CORNCRIB 69
XVII GRUMPY'S MISTAKE 73
XVIII POP! GOES THE WEASEL 78
XIX HIDING FROM HENRY HAWK 83
XX A FREE RIDE 88
XXI A NEW SUIT 93
XXII GRUMPY'S THREAT 98
XXIII A BOLD STRANGER 103
XXIV FUR AND FEATHERS 107
XXV PETER MINK'S PROMISE 112
XXVI HOW GRUMPY HELPED 116
THE TALE OF GRUMPY WEASEL
I
A SLIM RASCAL
Old Mr. Crow often remarked that if Grumpy Weasel really wanted to be ofsome use in the world he would spend his time at the sawmill fillingknot holes in boards.
"He's so slender," Mr. Crow would say, "that he can push himself into aknot hole no bigger round than Farmer Green's thumb."
Naturally it did not please old Mr. Crow when Solomon Owl went out ofhis way one day to tell him that he was sadly mistaken. For afterhearing some gossip repeat Mr. Crow's opinion Solomon Owl--the wise oldbird--had given several long hoots and hurried off, though it was broaddaylight, to set Mr. Crow right.
"The trouble--" Solomon explained when he had found Mr. Crow on the edgeof the woods--"the trouble with your plan to have Grumpy Weasel work inthe sawmill is that he wouldn't keep a knot hole filled longer than ajiffy. It's true that he can fit a very small hole. But if you'd everwatched him closely you'd know that he's in a hole and out the otherside so fast you can scarcely see what happens. He's entirely too activeto fill the bill."
Old Mr. Crow made a queer noise in his throat, which showed that SolomonOwl had made him angry.
"I never said anything about Grumpy Weasel's filling any bills," Mr.Crow spluttered. "Knot holes were what I had in mind. I've no doubt,though, that you'd like Grumpy Weasel to fill your own bill."
Now, if Solomon Owl had not tried more than once to catch Grumpy Weaselperhaps Mr. Crow's retort wouldn't have made him feel so uncomfortable.And muttering that he wished when people spoke of his beak they wouldn'tcall it a bill, and that Mr. Crow was too stupid to talk to, Solomonblundered away into the woods.
It was true, of course, that Grumpy Weasel was about the quickest of allthe furred folk in Pleasant Valley. Why, you might be looking at him ashe stopped for a moment on a stone wall; and while you looked he wouldvanish before your eyes. It was just as if he had melted away in aninstant, so quickly could he dart into a crevice between the stones.
It was surprising, too, that he could whisk himself out of sight sofast, for his body was absurdly long. But if he was long in one way hewas short in another. Yes! Grumpy Weasel had the shortest temper of allthe field- and forest-folk throughout Pleasant Valley. Evenpeppery Peter Mink was not so short-tempered as he.
So terrible tempered was Grumpy Weasel that whenever the news flashedthrough the woods that he was out hunting, all the small people keptquite still, because they were afraid. And even some of the biggerones--a good deal bigger than Grumpy Weasel himself--felt uneasy.
So you can see whether or not Grumpy Weasel was welcome.
II
AT THE OLD STONE WALL
Little Mr. Chippy suddenly set up a great twitter. Anybody could seethat he was frightened. And one of Jolly Robin's sons, perched in anapple tree near the stone wall where Mr. Chippy lived in a wildgrapevine, wondered what could be the matter.
Presently, as he looked beneath him, he saw a long, slim shape dart froma chink of the old wall, and as quickly disappear.
"Huh!" said young Master Robin. "Foolish people who build their homes onwalls must expect snakes for visitors." And feeling quite wise and grownup, he turned his back on Mr. Chippy, as if it really made nodifference to him if Mr. Chippy did have a dangerous caller.
Meanwhile others of the bird neighbors began to echo Mr. Chippy'swarning notes. And young Master Robin thought everybody was silly tomake such a fuss over the misfortunes of a humble person like Mr.Chippy.
"If they don't look out they'll scare all the angleworms back into theirholes," he grumbled--a remark which shows that he knew little about theways of the world. And when Rusty Wren swerved near him and called tohim to look out for Mr. Chippy's visitor--that he was "a bad one"--youngMaster Robin actually puffed himself up with rage.
"He seems to think I'm in danger of falling out of this tree," hesneered aloud. "He doesn't know that I can handle myself in a tree aswell as he can." As he spoke, Master Robin all but tumbled off hisperch. But he caught himself just in time, then looked around hastily tosee if anybody had noticed his awkwardness.
All this time poor Mr. Chippy's cries continued. There was really noreason for his alarm. For his wife was away from home, with all theirchildren. But Mr. Chippy kept flying back and forth in a great flutter.He too called to young Master Robin that he'd better go home.
Still that knowing youngster paid no heed to his elder's advice.
"If snakes climb trees I've never seen them do it," he scoffed.
"Hi, there! Haven't you seen----" Mr. Chippy started to say. But beforehe could finish his question Master Robin interrupted him rudely.
"Certainly I saw him," he cried. "I saw him come out of the wall and goin again."
"He'll get you if you don't go away!" Mr. Chippy shrieked.
"Let him try!" Master Robin scoffed. He was sorry that Mr. Chippy didnot hear him. But that distracted little person had already hurried offto warn somebody else.
It was no time at all before Rusty Wren's wife gave
a piercing scream.
"That fat Robin boy--he'll be caught!" she wailed.
Now, it made Master Robin very angry to be spoken of in such a way asthat.
"Fat!" he burst out in a loud tone as he stared in Mrs. Wren'sdirection. "Who's fat?"
"You are!" said a strange, grumpy voice right behind him--or so itseemed to young Master Robin.
III
MASTER ROBIN'S LESSON
When young Master Robin heard the strange voice that sounded so grumpyand so near him he was terribly frightened. He forgot that he thoughthimself grown up, and very wise, and quite able to go about alone. Hedidn't even look to see who was speaking, but fell backwards off thelimb of the apple tree.
It was lucky for him, too, that he fell just when he did. For a longbrownish person, white underneath, took Master Robin's place on the limbso promptly that you could hardly have said he jumped into it fromsomewhere else. He seemed to have popped out of the tree somewhat as afreshly popped kernel of corn bursts forth. A moment ago it was notthere! You were watching, but did not see it grow big.
Well, all at once there was silence in the orchard. Everybody washolding his breath, waiting to see what happened to young Master Robin.Though he had lost his balance and tumbled backward he righted himselfquite like an old-timer and flew off across the orchard.
"I didn't know snakes could climb trees," he stammered to Mr. Chippy,who had followed him.
"Snakes!" Mr. Chippy piped. "That wasn't a snake! That was GrumpyWeasel.... And it's a wonder you ever escaped," he added. "I must learnthat backward somersault. It's a good thing to know."
Master Robin Escapes From Grumpy Weasel. (_Page 9_)]
You can see that Mr. Chippy was a very humble person. But Mr. JollyRobin's eldest son was quite proud. Already he began to feel that he hadbeen very skilful in escaping. But of course it was only an accidentthat he got away.
For once in his life Grumpy Weasel had been careless. It had looked soeasy--catching that clumsy young robin! He had spoken to Master Robin,not dreaming that he could save himself. To make matters worse, Grumpyhad found Mr. Chippy's nest empty. And Grumpy Weasel was the sort ofperson that liked to find a bird at home when he called. It always madehim more ill-natured than usual to make a call for nothing. And now hehad let a stupid young Robin escape him. So it is not surprising thathis big black eyes snapped nor that he said something in a fierce voicethat sounded like "Chip, chip, chip," but meant something a good dealworse.
And to add to Grumpy Weasel's rage, somebody had laughed hoarsely--somebodythat sat in a tall elm across the road.
If he could have caught Mr. Crow there is no doubt that Grumpy wouldhave made that black scamp sorry that he laughed. But old Mr. Crow wastoo wary to let anybody surprise him. "Haw, haw!" he laughed again. AndGrumpy Weasel actually couldn't bear to hear him. Some of the onlookersclaimed afterward that they saw Grumpy Weasel start down the tree. Andthat was as much as they could say. No one knew how he managed to slipout of sight. And the field people say that he was never seen again inthat exact spot.
IV
HUNTING A HOLE
Usually Grumpy Weasel did not stray far from a certain corner of FarmerGreen's wood lot. He preferred to hunt where he knew the lay of theland. And since he liked especially to hunt along old stone walls, hepicked out a long stretch of old tumble-down wall that reached throughthe woods towards Blue Mountain.
He picked it out as his very own hunting ground and never askedpermission of Farmer Green, either.
Now, near the lower end of this wall--the end toward the pasture--a fatperson known as Mr. Meadow Mouse sometimes wandered. But he nevervisited that spot without first inquiring whether Grumpy Weasel had beenthere the day before. Mr. Meadow Mouse had learned somehow that Grumpyusually moved on each day to a different part of his hunting ground. Hewas surprised, therefore, to meet Grumpy Weasel face to face one time,when he felt sure that that surly rogue must be a good safe distanceaway.
Mr. Meadow Mouse cast a quick glance around. But he could see no placeto hide. So there was nothing for him to do but to put on a bold front.He bowed pleasantly enough, though he was trembling a little, andremarked that it was a fine day and that he hoped Grumpy was feelinghappy--all of which was quite true.
Grumpy Weasel glowered at Mr. Meadow Mouse, for that was his way ofreplying to a kindly greeting.
"You've not come here to hunt, I hope," he growled. "I'll have you knowthat this is my private hunting ground and I allow no poaching."
Mr. Meadow Mouse hastened to explain that he was merely out for astroll.
"I never hunt," he declared. "Of course, if I happen to see a tiny seedI may stop to eat it. But that's all."
"You'd better be careful what you say!" Grumpy Weasel snapped. "UnlessI'm mistaken, you were hunting something the moment you saw me. You werehunting a hole."
Mr. Meadow Mouse gasped slightly. He hardly knew what to say.
"Be very careful where you go around here!" Grumpy Weasel warned him."The holes in this stone wall are all mine. I shouldn't want you to usea single one of them without my permission."
Mr. Meadow Mouse assured him that he wouldn't dream of trespassing.
"And these holes among the roots of the trees--they are mine too,"Grumpy Weasel snarled.
"Oh, certainly! Certainly!" Mr. Meadow Mouse cried. He was so quick toagree that for once Grumpy Weasel couldn't think of anything more tofind fault about.
"I'll let you crawl into a few of the smaller holes in the stone wall,if you'll be careful not to hurt them," he offered grudgingly.
Mr. Meadow Mouse made haste to thank him.
He said, however, that he thought he would wait till some other time.
"There's no time like the present," Grumpy Weasel grumbled. "To tellthe truth, I want to see if you can squeeze through as small a hole as Ican."
V
SOLOMON OWL INTERRUPTS
Plump little Mr. Meadow Mouse wished he had stayed away from GrumpyWeasel's hunting ground. He would have scampered off, had he not knownthat Grumpy could overtake him before he had made three leaps. So he sawno way out of his trouble, though he could think of nothing lessagreeable than trying to slip through a small hole with Grumpy Weaselclose at hand, watching him narrowly.
Then all at once Mr. Meadow Mouse had an idea. "You go first!" he saidpolitely. "Go through any hole you choose and then I'll try my luck."
But Grumpy Weasel was too crafty to do that.
"You'd try your luck at running away," he snarled. "You are the one togo first; and we'll have no words about it."
Well, Mr. Meadow Mouse began to shake more than ever.
"Don't you think," he quavered, "that we'd better wait a few days untilI'm a bit smaller? I'm afraid I've been overeating lately and I mightget stuck in a hole. And of course that would be awkward."
"Ha, ha!" Grumpy Weasel actually laughed. But it was not what any onecould call a hearty, wholesome, cheerful sort of laugh. On the contrary,it sounded very cruel and gloating.
"Hoo, hoo!" Another laugh--this one weird and hollow--boomed out fromthe hemlock tree just above Mr. Meadow Mouse's head.
He jumped, in spite of himself--did Mr. Meadow Mouse. And so, too, didGrumpy Weasel. Both of them leaped for the old stone wall. And eachflashed into a crevice between the stones, though Grumpy Weasel was everso much the quicker of the two. They knew Solomon Owl's voice too wellto mistake his odd laughter.
"What's your hurry, gentlemen?" Solomon called to them.
Mild Mr. Meadow Mouse made no reply. But from Grumpy Weasel's hidingplace an angry hiss told Solomon Owl that one of them, at least, hadheard his question.
"Come out!" said Solomon Owl. "Don't be shy! I've dined already."
Well, that made the two in the wall feel somewhat bolder. And soon theyventured to peep out and gaze at Solomon, to see whether he looked likea person who had just enjoyed a good meal.
"You're not as hollow as you sound, I hope," Grumpy Weasel remarked withsome suspicion in his to
ne.
As for Mr. Meadow Mouse, he wouldn't dream of making so rude a remark.
"It's a fine evening and I hope you're feeling happy," he piped.
"Oh, very! Very!" said Solomon Owl solemnly.
Mr. Meadow Mouse was a trusting sort of chap. He was all ready to leavehis cranny. But Grumpy Weasel was not yet satisfied.
"Which one of us are you answering?" he demanded of Solomon.
"Him!" said Solomon.
"Did you say, 'Ahem?'" Grumpy Weasel wanted to know.
"No, no!" Solomon assured him. "I said, 'him.' I was answering yourfriend."
Grumpy Weasel made a wry face, as if he did not care to have anybodyspeak of Mr. Meadow Mouse as a friend of his. And he did not quit thestone wall until he had seen Mr. Meadow Mouse venture forth in safety.
"Just by accident I overheard your remarks a few minutes ago," Mr. Owlexplained. "I'd like to watch this hole-crawling contest. And I'll stayhere and be the umpire--and see that there's fair play."
VI
MR. MEADOW MOUSE ESCAPES
Grumpy Weasel did not like Solomon Owl's offer to be umpire of thehole-crawling contest between Mr. Meadow Mouse and himself. He hissed afew times and glared at Solomon Owl, up in the hemlock tree.
Solomon Owl did not appear to mind that, but calmly outstared GrumpyWeasel without once blinking. "Are you both ready?" he asked presently.
"Yes, thank you!" Mr. Meadow Mouse answered. And Grumpy Weasel gave asort of shrug, as if to say that he supposed he was.