EXCITEMENT IN THE FOREST
"Oh, Father, I'm afraid to go any higher." Greta clung to her father's
arm in terror. This was the first time she had climbed up the lookout
tower in the forest, and even now she was only halfway up. It seemed
such a fearfully long way to the top.
"I just can't go on," the little girl pleaded.
"Why, Greta, for months you've begged to climb up here."
"But I didn't know it was so high."
"You won't be scared if you don't look down at the ground. Just hold
tightly to my hand and you will be all right. Remember, Greta, a girl
who is named after a queen must not be afraid of anything."
"All right, Father, I'll go on."
[Illustration: AT THE TOP OF THE TOWER]
In no time at all they reached the very top of the tower, which stood in
the middle of the forest.
"Why, Father, I can see all of Denmark from here."
Her father laughed. "Not quite all of it, Greta. But you can see all of
our farm and a good many other farms, too. By the way, Greta, just how
large _is_ Denmark?"
"I thought school was over for the summer," laughed Greta. "But I'll
tell you anyway. Denmark covers exactly 16,574 square miles. Besides
that, Denmark owns Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Any more questions,
teacher?"
"Not right away. I'll try to think up a really hard one next time."
Greta's father began looking closely at the forest. He was very proud of
the rows and rows of sturdy evergreens that covered a hundred acres of
his farm. Each year a certain number of trees was cut. Some of them were
sold, and some of them were used for fuel. But always, every year, new
trees were planted to take the place of those that were cut.
Greta was gazing off into the distance, but suddenly her attention was
caught by Chouse, who was running along the road that led to the tower.
If only her father didn't see him, thought Greta. Not a word had been
said about Chouse for the last two days, and Greta hoped that the whole
matter had been forgotten.
When Chouse reached the foot of the tower he began barking loudly. He
had never climbed the tower and he wasn't as brave as Greta, for he
didn't even try. He just kept on barking and barking and barking. Greta
called to him, but he paid no attention. He merely barked more loudly
than before. Of course her father heard him.
"What's that dog up to now, Greta? I guess you'll have to go down and
see what he wants. Are you afraid to go down the tower alone?"
"No, of course I'm not afraid." Greta was glad of the chance to show
how brave she really was.
But when she got down and patted him, Chouse still kept on barking.
Something was the matter, but Greta couldn't imagine what it was. Soon
her father came down, and Greta could see that he was annoyed. Chouse
rushed up to him and barked, trying so hard to tell him something. The
dog dashed down the road a short distance and then ran back, barking
furiously all the time.
"I guess we shall have to follow, Greta."
When Chouse saw that they were following, he stopped barking and was
quite content. Once in a while he would run on ahead in a great hurry.
Then he would run back to Greta and her father and bark again.
"There must be something wrong in the forest," said Greta's father. "I
have never seen Chouse so upset."
"You were just up in the tower, Father. If there had been a fire, you
would surely have seen it."
[Illustration: SOME TREES ARE CUT EACH YEAR]
"Maybe not, because I was watching the men cutting the trees, trying to
decide how many we should cut this year. I hadn't looked over the rest
of the forest yet."
A forest fire is a dreadful thing in this part of the country, where the
wind from the North Sea blows all day long. It can blow a fire in front
of it until all the trees are gone. That is why the forests are always
watched so carefully.
Suddenly Chouse darted off the main road into a narrow path. Greta and
her father followed right at his heels, for they knew that the dog was
leading them somewhere. This was his only way of telling them something
that he thought they should know. Soon he turned off to still another
path. Never for a moment did he hesitate. Chouse knew exactly where he
was going.
When they came to the very edge of the forest, Chouse dashed around and
jumped up and down in great excitement. At last they had reached the
place to which he had been leading them. And no wonder that Chouse was
so excited, for right in front of them, just a few feet from the line of
trees, there was a fire!
"Oh, Father, will the whole forest burn down?" asked Greta, as she
watched the flames which crackled through the pile of twigs and
underbrush.
"No, Greta. Thanks to Chouse, we got here in time. But if the wind
should change suddenly, the whole forest could very easily burn down."
"How did such a fire ever get started?"
"I told old Peter to clear out some of the twigs and underbrush,"
explained her father, "but I also told him that he must never go away
when these piles were burning. He must stay with them every minute."
"I wonder where he is now?"
"I don't know. But he should be right here, watching this fire."
"If the wind did change, how would he put out the fire?"
"By throwing earth on it, Greta."
While they were talking, Chouse was standing near by, wagging his tail
and looking very proud of himself.
[Illustration: IN THE FOREST]
"Chouse, you are the best dog in the whole wide world," said the happy
little girl. "First you rescued my kittens and now you have saved the
whole forest from burning. We couldn't possibly send Chouse away. Could
we, Father?"
Her father didn't answer right away. Finally he said, "By the way,
Greta, have you named the kittens yet?"
"No, I haven't. I've been trying to think of some very special sort of
names, but I just can't think of any."
"Maybe Anna can help you find the right names," her father suggested.
"Of course she can. But I wonder when Anna is coming? I haven't heard
from her yet."
"Why don't you run home and see if you got a letter this morning? I must
stay here and watch this fire until old Peter comes."
"All right, Father."
It didn't take Greta long to get home. Even Chouse could hardly keep up
with her. She hadn't been away from her kittens for this long a time
since the day Chouse had rescued them. You would never know now that
they had been almost drowned. Their fur was just as soft and fluffy as
it had ever been.
"Oh, there you are, Greta. I've been looking everywhere for you." Her
mother greeted her at the door of the house. "Here is a letter for you
from Anna."
Greta read the letter eagerly.
"_Dear Greta:_
_Thank you for your nice invitation. I shall be very happy to come.
Can you meet me at the train at Holstebro? I shall arrive next
Monday at half past two._
_Lovingly yours,
Anna_"
"Another letter came this morning, Greta, and I have a real surprise for
you."
[Illustration: THE LETTER FROM ANNA]
"Oh, Mother, what is it?" Greta's eyes were already dancing with
happiness.
"We are invited to Vosborg for dinner next week."
"You mean the beautiful castle up on the hill," asked Greta, "the one
that I have always wanted to visit?"
"Yes, dear, that very castle."
"But I thought that Mr. Christianson didn't live there any more?"
"He has been away for many years, but now he has come back to live in
Vosborg."
"And you mean that _I_ can go, and Hans, and Anna, too?"
"Yes, Greta."
"Oh, _Mother_!" Greta threw her arms around her mother's neck. "I must
tell Hans right away." And off she dashed, with Chouse at her heels.