Would they run for the river, or would they wait for him to return?
It distressed him to think that he had not been able to warn
Whip-Poor-Will and Hermit the Thrush as he had promised. Would they
wait for him?
He put forth all his strength to gain on the other animals, and soon
found himself in the lead again. He passed Buster the Bear and Billy
the Mink and Sleepy the Opossum.
“I wish I could run as fast as you, Bumper,” Sleepy wailed. “I’m afraid
I’ll be too late.”
“No, there’s time enough, Billy,” replied Bumper. “I want to run ahead
to warn Fuzzy Wuzz and Old Blind Rabbit.”
“Oh, they’ll know the fire’s coming long before you reach home. Won’t
you wait for me? I’m terribly frightened, and if you leave me behind I
know I’ll die.”
Bumper slowed down to comfort Billy. He ran alongside of him for a time
to keep him company. This put new heart in Billy, and of course hope
gave him strength and he really ran faster than before.
They nearly stumbled over White-Foot the Deer Mouse, who had been
running as fast as his little legs would permit him. But he curled up
now, and stopped, panting for breath.
“What’s the matter, White Foot?” asked Bumper.
“I’m all in,” panted White Foot. “I can’t run another step. I’ve run
all the way from Bald Mountain today, and I’m too tired to take another
step.”
“But the fire will catch you here,” protested Bumper. “You must try
again.”
“No, I can’t. I tell you I’m exhausted, and my feet are bleeding.”
He held up a foot that was covered with blood. Bumper’s pity for him
was more than he could express in words. “Crawl upon my back, White
Foot. I guess I can carry another.”
“Thank you, Bumper! You will save my life if you carry me.”
And White Foot the Deer Mouse hopped up by the side of Lazy the Snail
and Spotty the Chameleon. With this added burden Bumper found that he
couldn’t run much faster than Sleepy the Opossum.
“I’ll have to keep company with you now, Billy,” he said. “I can’t run
faster with so many on my back.”
“Why do you carry them, Bumper?” asked Sleepy. “Why don’t you let them
look out for themselves?”
“For shame on you, Sleepy! Would you leave them behind to be burnt up?
No, no, we can’t do that. We must help each other.”
“I don’t see that anybody’s helping me,” growled Sleepy.
“I thought I was helping you by keeping you company,” replied Bumper.
“If it isn’t doing you any good, I may as well run ahead.”
“No, no, don’t leave me!” cried Sleepy. “You are helping me. I didn’t
mean what I was saying before.”
“All right, then! Don’t grumble because somebody else is having an
easier time than you.”
They were approaching the river where it was broad and deep, and some
of the animals ahead were squealing and grunting with pleasure. Once
across the river, they would be safe from the flames.
“Now we’ll soon be there!” exclaimed Bumper hopefully. “I can smell the
water, Billy.”
“I’m glad of it, for I’m nearly dead.”
A little squeaking voice suddenly startled them, and out of a hole
in the nearest tree popped the head of Stripe the Chipmunk. “Bumper!
Bumper!” he squealed in his high, piping voice. “Is it true the woods
are on fire?”
“Yes, Stripe, and you’d better hurry to the river.”
“But I can’t! I broke my leg last week, and I can’t use it. Do you
think I’ll be safe in this hole?”
“No, of course not! All the trees will fall down and be burnt up.”
“Then I’ll burn with them. Oh! Oh! What can I do?”
Bumper stopped and looked at him. Stripe was a fat, healthy fellow, and
weighed so much that Bumper wondered if he could carry him on his back.
“I’ll try to carry you, Stripe,” he said finally. “The river is nearby,
and maybe I can do it. Run up on my back, and hold tight.”
Sleepy the Opossum gained on Bumper after that. The white rabbit
couldn’t possibly keep up with him. But he reached the river finally,
with Stripe the Chipmunk, Lazy the Snail, Spotty the Chameleon and
White Foot the Deer Mouse clinging to his back. In the next story you
will hear of how they crossed the river.
STORY VIII
HOW THEY CROSSED THE RIVER
It was a strange sight that met them when they reached the edge of the
river. All the animals of the woods, big and little, four-legged and
two-legged, and those without any legs, such as Killer the Snake, were
congregated there on the bank. Some of them who naturally loved the
water, such as Billy the Mink and Browny the Muskrat, were already in
the river, swimming for the other side.
But most of them were waiting, dipping their feet in the water, and
then withdrawing them. They didn’t like to take the long swim unless
it was necessary. They kept looking over their shoulders to see if the
fire was near, and then glancing longingly at the other shore.
Bumper sighed with relief when he saw Fuzzy Wuzz, Spotted Tail and Old
Blind Rabbit waiting for him. “Oh, Bumper, we were so worried about
you!” exclaimed Fuzzy Wuzz. “I’m glad you’re here!”
“There wasn’t any need to worry about me,” replied Bumper. “I can look
after myself. But where’s Rolly Polly and his family?”
“They’re here--all safe.”
“And Pink Nose, and Brindley the Lame?”
“All here!”
“Then everything’s all right,” sighed Bumper. “I was afraid some of
them might get caught.” Then recalling the distress of the birds, he
asked about Hermit the Thrush and Mrs. Oven-Bird and Black Cap the
Chickadee. Fuzzy Wuzz laughed and pointed to the other side.
“They’re on the other side of the river,” she said. “They flew across
before we got here.”
“That’s good. I almost wish I had wings. Is the water cold?”
“Yes, terribly,” replied Fuzzy Wuzz, shuddering. “That’s why we hate to
take the plunge. Ugh! It makes me shiver!”
Bumper laughed at her expression. “When the fire gets here it will be
warm enough,” he said.
Fuzzy Wuzz suddenly grew grave and serious. “It’s too bad about Bobby
Gray Squirrel,” she said.
“What’s the matter with Bobby?” asked Bumper.
“Haven’t you heard? He’s been sick, and when we passed his hole he was
too weak to follow us. We called to him, but he couldn’t come with
us. He tried it, but he fell out of the tree, and I’m afraid he hurt
himself.”
“What!” exclaimed Bumper. “Bobby Gray Squirrel’s back there in the
woods!”
“Yes,” nodded Fuzzy Wuzz.
Bumper turned around. “I must go and help him,” he said. “I can’t leave
him to die such a horrible death.”
“Oh, you can’t do anything, Bumper,” pleaded Fuzzy Wuzz. “You mustn’t
go back. You’ll be killed by the fire, too.”
“I can’t leave Bobby,” replied Bumper. “No, no, I must try to help him.
I’ll go back before it’s too late.”
“But what will become of me?” piped up a little voice near his ear, and
Spotty the Chameleon changed from a bright green to a sickly yellow.
“I think,” Bumper replied, “you must get across some other way.”
“I’ll try to swim,” piped up White Foot the Deer Mouse. “I feel quite
rested now.”
“I don’t have to swim across,” said Lazy the Snail. “I’ll crawl down
into the wet mud and be safe.”
“I can’t very well swim with a broken leg,” said Stripe the Chipmunk,
“but if you’ll put me on a chip I can float down the river.”
Bumper had forgotten his little charges, and for a moment he was
distressed. Then he said to Fuzzy Wuzz: “Find a chip for Stripe so
he can float on it, and then swim along by White Foot to see that he
doesn’t get exhausted. I’ll get Pink Nose to carry Spotty across on his
back. He’ll do it.”
He hopped away, and soon brought Pink Nose back with him, who promised
to look out for the Chameleon. Lazy said good-bye, and began burrowing
into the soft mud. Fuzzy Wuzz put Stripe the Chipmunk on a big chip,
and then started to swim across with White Foot the Deer Mouse.
“Now all of you get across,” Bumper commanded, “and I’ll go back to see
if I can do anything for Bobby Gray Squirrel.”
“Oh, Bumper, do be careful, and return soon,” pleaded Fuzzy Wuzz.
Bumper promised, and then dashed back into the woods. In a very short
time he found the smoke growing so dense that it made him gasp. But
he raced on directly toward the approaching fire. Pretty soon hot,
scorching cinders fell about him, and he could hear the roar of the
flames.
The bright light ahead told him he was nearly upon the fire, but he
loped along, making straight for Bobby’s tree. When he reached it he
began calling frantically.
“Bobby! Bobby!”
A weak little voice responded, and Bumper jumped to where it came from.
There curled up in the leaves at the bottom of the big tree was Bobby
Gray Squirrel too sick to care whether the fire was near or not.
“What’d you come back for, Bumper?” he asked.
“To save you,” was the quick reply.
“You can’t do it. I’m too sick and weak to walk.”
“Then get on my back, and hold tight. I’ll carry you.”
“No, Bumper, you couldn’t do it. I’m too heavy for you. Run along and
save yourself.”
“Get on my back, Bobby, and stop talking! Quick now, or we’ll both be
scorched. The fire’s nearly here.”
Still protesting, Bobby finally obeyed. He was almost as big as Bumper,
but not so fat and heavy, and to hold himself on he had to cling to the
white rabbit’s neck. This choked Bumper, and made it more difficult for
him to run.
But he couldn’t stop for that. He had to hurry, or both of them would
be killed by the fire. He hopped along slowly with his burden, and the
fire seemed to gain on them. In vain he tried to run faster, but he was
doing all he could. His strength was giving out rapidly.
“I can never swim the river with him,” he kept thinking. “I’ll drown
surely, but that’s better than being burnt alive.”
When he finally reached the water he was too exhausted to jump in.
Bobby realized that it was impossible to go further. “You go alone,
Bumper, and leave me,” Bobby said. “I can’t swim, but you can.”
“No, I can’t swim either,” panted Bumper. “I haven’t any strength left.”
“Hello!” a gruff voice called back of them. “Who can’t swim, and why
not?”
Buster the Bear stood back of them ready to plunge in the river. Bumper
explained in a few words what he had done, and what he hoped to do.
Buster looked at him with a curious expression in his eyes.
“Well, well,” he said. “It’s too bad to spoil a good thing. I guess
I’ll have to take a hand in it. Now both of you jump on my back, and
I’ll get you across. I don’t mind a little swim like that.”
[Illustration: IN THIS WAY BUMPER AND BOBBY CROSSED THE RIVER]
Buster was in earnest and when he invited them both to get on his
back the second time, Bobby crawled up and clung to his thick wool,
but Bumper had to perch on his head so he wouldn’t lose his balance.
Then, grinning at the queer burden he was carrying, Buster waded out
until the water was over his head, and then began swimming. In this way
Bumper and Bobby Gray Squirrel crossed the river to a place of safety.
They were the last of the animals of the North Woods to get away from
the fire.
If Buster doesn’t decide to eat them, or the river doesn’t dry up,
you’ll hear in the next story what happened to them on the other side.
STORY IX
THE TRUCE
That was a great ride across the river on Buster’s back. Bobby Gray
Squirrel had no difficulty in clinging to the Bear’s thick wool, for
his claws were made to dig into things and hold on; but Bumper felt
like a shipwrecked mariner riding the waves on a cockle-shell. Every
time Buster pitched forward, or turned his head sideways or looked up
at the sky, Bumper clutched with all four paws at the shaggy head, and
felt that he would be dumped into the water to finish the trip alone.
It was a balancing act with him that made every moment perilous and
uncertain.
Now all the other animals and birds who had escaped from the fire were
lined upon the shore, and when they saw Buster the Bear swimming toward
them with Bumper the White Rabbit perched on his head and Bobby Gray
Squirrel clinging to his back they stared in amazement, rubbing their
eyes, and wondering if they were seeing things that were really not so.
Then as the truth of the funny sight dawned upon them, they sat up a
shout of welcome. The birds whistled; the animals barked or squealed;
Killer the Snake squirmed and hissed, and Rolly Polly and Pink Nose lay
back and laughed until the tears streamed down their cheeks.
Suddenly a loud, harsh “Ha! Ha! Ha!” rose above the din. It was Mr.
Crow laughing at the funny picture.
The others immediately changed their tune, and the woods rang with
laughter. Even Sneaky the Wolf showed his teeth in a grin, and made a
noise that sounded like a chuckle and Mr. Fox rolled over and over in
convulsions of merriment.
Shrike the Butcher Bird screamed with delight, and forgot his grudge
against the other birds, and Singer the Mocking Bird began imitating
the cries and chuckles of the others until the forest fairly bubbled
with mirthful sounds. Buster didn’t quite understand the meaning of it
all, but after a while, puffing and panting, he reached shallow water,
and began wading ashore.
“Are they laughing at us?” he asked suddenly. “It’s no laughing
matter,” he added with a growl. He objected to being made the butt of a
joke, although he liked to play jokes on others.
“They don’t mean anything unkind, Buster,” Bumper said. “They are happy
to think you’ve saved us.”
“Huh! That’s a funny way to show it,” snorted Buster.
And when he crawled up on dry land, and saw Sneaky the Wolf grinning,
he cuffed him on the ear, and added:
“What do you see that’s so funny, Sneaky? I didn’t see you saving
anybody but your own skin.”
Sneaky snarled and drew away.
“I wasn’t as thoughtful as you, Buster,” he sneered. “If I had been I’d
carried over two or three rabbits to eat when I got ashore. But Bobby
and Bumper will only make a mouthful for you.”
“You think I saved them to eat them?” snapped Buster angrily.
“Why, certainly,” politely replied Sneaky drawing away from the big
paws. “What else would you save them for?”
Bobby and Bumper didn’t like the expression on Sneaky’s face, and they
felt like running and hiding, but they decided Buster was a good enough
protector for them, and they remained close by his side.
“No, Buster saved them for us,” remarked Mr. Fox slyly. “We ought to
thank him for it.”
“Come here, Mr. Fox, and thank me,” snarled Buster, turning suddenly.
“No, thank you,” replied Mr. Fox, trotting to a safe distance. “I can
thank you here just as well.”
Now that they were all safe on the other side of the river, the old
hunting instincts of the bigger animals were returning, and the natural
timidity of the smaller ones began to show itself. While caught in the
fire a truce had been declared, but they were all safe now.
Brindley the Lame, Crooked Ears, Pink Nose and Rolly Polly began
calling their families together to hide in the bushes, and Sleepy the
Opossum was taking to the nearest tree, and Browny the Muskrat was
hunting for a convenient hole. The birds were also separating according
to their clans--the song birds and thrushes on one side, and Dasher the
Hawk, Great Horn the Owl and Baldy the Eagle on the other. Loup the
Lynx, who had been resting in the crotch of a tree after his long swim,
was crouching and viewing the smaller animals with fierce, hungry eyes.
Bumper saw in a glance that war was about to be declared, and all his
people without homes or any secret hiding place would become easy prey
to their enemies. His soul troubled him. The slaughter might be almost
as great as if they had all been caught in the fire. He felt called
upon to do something to avert the tragedy.
“Buster, let me speak to them,” he said suddenly, hopping back on the
top of the Bear’s head where he could look around and see everyone. The
sight of the white rabbit on Buster’s head once more excited amusement.
Mr. Crow started off with his loud “Ha! Ha!” and Singer the Mocking
Bird repeated it. The others couldn’t resist it, and they all began
laughing again. Bumper felt pleased at this, for when an animal is
laughing he can’t be very dangerous.
Smiling and bowing, Bumper finally raised a paw, and said: “Now that
we’re safe from the fire, we must begin life again on this side of the
river. It’s all new to us, and not one of us has a home. Sneaky and
Loup and Mr. Fox were very kind to us when we were caught in the fire.
Not one of them tried to kill us. We’re going to thank them for that.”
Sleepy the Opossum, Washer the Raccoon, Mr. Beaver, Curly the Skunk
and all the others nodded their heads, and expressed their thanks in
their different ways. Bumper raised his head, and added: “Also we must
thank Baldy the Eagle for not attacking the birds, and Dasher the Hawk
and Great Horn the Owl. Instead of attacking us Baldy actually gave us
warning of the fire, and in that way helped us.”
Baldy looked a little pleased at this, and nodded his head. Great Horn
ruffled his feathers in pride, and blinked hard at the sun. Bumper saw
that his flattery had a good effect, and while they were still in a
pleasant mood he made haste to propose his plan.
“Now I’m sure they’re going to give us another chance,” he went on.
“None of us has a home, and it will take several days for all of us to
make new ones. Baldy wants to find a new one for his mate, and Loup
is anxious to please Mrs. Loup, who is waiting for him. Now why not
declare a truce for two days until we can all get settled again on this
side of the river? Isn’t that fair?”
Sneaky and Mr. Fox looked a little uncertain, but Mrs. Loup the Lynx
settled it for her lord and husband. “Yes,” she said, “that’s fair.
Come on, Loup, and help me find a new home.”
Baldy’s mate, who was a little cross at being driven away from her nest
on Bald Mountain, was equally anxious to begin housekeeping in their
new place. She whispered a word or two, and Baldy flapped his wings,
and the two flew away together.
“How about you, Sneaky and Mr. Fox?” growled Buster, turning to these
two. “Are you going to live up to the truce?”
“Why--er--” stammered Mr. Fox.
“If you don’t,” interrupted Buster, “I’ll make you. To tell you the
truth, I’d like a few boxing lessons with you and Sneaky.”
“Yes, yes, of course, we agree,” replied Mr. Fox and Sneaky hurriedly.
“Then the meeting is over,” declared Buster. “Now every one trot away,
and begin house hunting. Is that right, Bumper?”
“Yes, Buster,” replied the white rabbit, climbing down. “And if you
ever need a friend, don’t forget that Bobby and I owe our lives to you.
We can never thank you enough.”
“Oh, that’s all right!” grinned Buster, as he lumbered away. So the
meeting was ended, and the animals and birds began to separate. How
they found new homes in the woods, and the adventures that befell them
will be told in the next story.
STORY X
HOUSE HUNTING IN THE WOODS
The great fire that had swept away the woods in which they had always
lived made every one of the birds and animals homeless. Of course, they
were thankful they had escaped the flames, but they had lost all their
possessions. Nobody had carried anything away with him.
The next two days were spent in house hunting. They were busy days you
can imagine. It is no easy thing for even the birds and animals to pick
up a home and start housekeeping again. There are so many things to
consider.
For instance, the first hole Washer the Raccoon entered was the
entrance to an ideal home for him, but Billy the Porcupine entered from
another side at the same time. A dispute immediately followed.
“This is my home,” said Billy, bristling up his spines.
“No, it isn’t,” retorted Washer. “I got here first.”
“No such thing. I discovered it first. Because you can run faster
doesn’t matter. It’s the question of which discovers it first.”
“Possession is half the law,” retorted Washer, showing his teeth. “And
I have possession.”
“How can you prove that when I’m in possession, too?” snapped Billy.
“I’m here, and you can’t put me out.”
“I can, and will,” said Washer, and he made a quick dart at Billy, who
curled up so suddenly that his sharp spines bristled on every side.
Washer danced around him, but he was unable to get at Billy, who
laughed and shouted:
“Now who’s got possession?”
Washer wasn’t to be bullied, however, and retorted: “I’ll starve you
out. You don’t dare uncurl. If you do I’ll get you. Now we’ll see who
owns the place.”
But Billy had a ready answer. “If I starve you’ll starve too. The
minute you go out for food, I’ll go too. Now what are you going to do?”
Washer recognized the truth of this, and was silent. He watched Billy
with angry eyes, but he was still afraid of the bristling ball of sharp
quills. They were in this attitude of waiting when Bumper appeared at
the mouth of the hole.
“Hello!” he exclaimed, addressing Fuzzy Wuzz. “This looks like a
promising place. Let’s investigate it.”
He ran in the hole, and came up against Washer the Raccoon. “You in
here, Washer?” he asked. “I didn’t know you were here. Then I must look
for some other place for a home.”
“Yes, I’m here,” replied Washer crossly. “And so is Billy the
Porcupine. There he is sulking in the corner. He refused to leave when
I ordered him out.”
“He had no right to order me away, Bumper,” Billy said, uncurling. “I
discovered the hole first, and came here to claim it for a home.”
“But I beat him down here,” interrupted Washer, “and the one that gets
first in a hole has a right to it. Isn’t that the law of the woods,
Bumper?”
“Well, well!” said Bumper, scratching his nose thoughtfully. “You’re
both right, I suppose, but one must be wrong.”
“I discovered it first,” interrupted Billy, “and that made it mine.”
“And I was first down here,” said Washer angrily.
“It seems to me,” remarked Bumper, “that this is a knotty question to
settle. Suppose you both give it up, and then neither will have the
advantage.”
“Huh!” growled Washer. “You want it for yourself.”
“I don’t see why I should give it up,” added Billy, “not even to you,
Bumper.”
“You misunderstand me, Billy. I didn’t want it for myself, but you and
Washer can’t stand here forever disputing about the ownership. You’d
never get settled. We want peace in the new woods.”
The dispute might have lasted indefinitely, for Bumper was puzzled how
to settle it; but just as he was thinking he would have to give it up
Groundy the Woodchuck rushed down the hole, and seeing so many there he
stopped in surprise.
“Hello! I didn’t know I had company in my new home!” he exclaimed.
“Well, I’m glad to see all of you. It’s a nice comfortable home, isn’t
it? Almost as good as the one I had in the North Woods. Welcome all of
you!”
“Well, if that isn’t the limit!” exclaimed Washer.
“The idea!” said Billy, uncurling a little more. “I guess you don’t own
the whole woods, Groundy.”
“No, I don’t claim any such thing, Billy,” replied Groundy. “But I do
claim this place. Why shouldn’t I? I discovered it first, and started
to make my nest here.”
“You did, eh?” snapped Washer. “I was the first one down here, and it’s
mine.”
“I discovered it first, and it’s mine,” echoed Billy.
Bumper saw that the dispute was likely to cause hard feeling between
the three friends, and he wished to settle it in a friendly way.
“When did you find it, Groundy?” he asked. “And were you down here
before?”
“Yes, hours ago.”
“Well, I’ve been here for ever and ever so long,” said Billy. “Washer
knows that, for he’s been here too.”
“Yes, we came in here a long time ago, and Groundy wasn’t in sight
then. I don’t believe he was ever here before. He’s just saying that to
claim the hole.”
Groundy showed some impatience, and then spying something way down in
the bottom of the burrow he smiled. Washer and Billy, who had joined
together to dispute his right, looked in the same direction, but they
could see nothing.
“If I prove that I discovered the burrow first, and was down here
before either Billy or Washer, is it my home?” Groundy asked, turning
to Bumper.
“Yes, that’s only fair. It’s the law of the woods, and Billy and Washer
should agree to it. You will, won’t you?”
He turned and addressed the two sulking animals.
“Yes, I will,” Billy assented after a pause.
“I too,” said Washer, “but he’s got to prove it, and not make up a
story.”
“I’ll prove it,” smiled Groundy. “I don’t have to make up any story.
Billy, look in the corner there and tell me what’s under those leaves.”
Billy wondering what he meant by this remark obeyed. There was a big
ball of leaves at the bottom that he hadn’t noticed there before,
and when he pawed around in them there was a little squeak, and up
popped the heads of three little woodchucks. They were the children
of Groundy, which he and Mrs. Groundy had brought from their old home
safely across the river. They were stowed away snugly in the hole, and
had been fast asleep.
“Well, how’d they get down here?” gasped Billy.
“I brought them here hours ago,” replied Groundy. “That’s my evidence
that I was here before either you or Washer.”