“The way in which to find things out,
And what goes on all round about,
Is just to keep my two eyes peeled
And two ears all the time unsealed.”
So said Jerry Muskrat, as he settled himself comfortably on one end
of the new dam across the Laughing Brook deep in the Green Forest and
watched the dark shadows creep farther and farther out into the strange
pond made by the new dam.
“I'm going to find out who it is that built this dam, and who it is that
filled the hole I made in it! I'm going to find out if I have to move up
here and live all summer!” The way in which Jerry said this and snapped
his teeth together showed that he meant just what he said.
You see Jerry had spent another long, weary day opening the hole in the
dam once more, only to have it closed again while he slept. That had
been enough for Jerry. He hadn't tried again. Instead he had made up
his mind that he would find out who was playing such a trick on him. He
would just watch until they came, and then if they were not bigger than
he, or there were not too many of them, he would--well, the way Jerry
gritted and clashed those sharp teeth of his sounded as if he meant to
do something pretty bad.
Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter had given up in disgust and started for
the Big River. They are great travelers, anyway, and so didn't mind so
much because there was no longer water enough in the Laughing Brook and
the Smiling Pool. Grandfather Frog and Spotty the Turtle, who are such
very, very slow travelers, had decided that the Big River was too far
away, and so they would stay and live in the strange pond for a while,
though it wasn't nearly so nice as their dear Smiling Pool. They bad
gone to sleep now, each in his own secret place where he would be safe
for the night.
So Jerry Muskrat sat alone and watched. The black shadows crept farther
and farther across the pond and grew blacker and blacker. Jerry didn't
mind this, because, as you know, his eyes are made for seeing in the
dark, and he dearly loves the night. Jerry had sat there a long
time without moving. He was listening and watching. By and by he saw
something that made him draw in his breath and anger leap into his eyes.
It was a little silver line on the water, and it was coming straight
towards the dam where he sat. Jerry knew that it was made by some one
swimming.
“Ha!” said Jerry. “Now we shall see!”
Nearer and nearer came the silver line. Then Jerry made out the head of
the swimmer. Suddenly all the anger left Jerry. He didn't have room for
anger; a great fear had crowded it out. The head was bigger than that of
any Muskrat Jerry had ever seen. It was bigger than the head of any of
Billy Mink's relatives. It was the head of a stranger, a stranger so big
that Jerry felt very, very small and hoped with all his might that the
stranger would not see him.
Jerry held his breath as the stranger swam past and then climbed out on
the dam. He looked very much like Jerry himself, only ever and ever so
much bigger. And his tail! Jerry had never seen such a tail. It was very
broad and flat. Suddenly the big stranger turned and looked straight at
Jerry.
“Hello, Jerry Muskrat!” said he. “Don't you know me?”
Jerry was too frightened to speak.
“I'm your big cousin from the North; I'm Paddy the Beaver, and if
you leave my dam alone, I think we'll be good friends,” continued the
stranger.
“I--I--I hope so,” said Jerry in a very faint voice, trying to be
polite, but with his teeth chattering with fear.