As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized
what a small, helpless creature he was. Not a word was spoken till
they stopped at the bank of a creek, which looked to him like a great
river. It was filled, in one place, with branches of willows, beeches,
poplars, and other trees. His heart beat sluggishly, for the scene was
very dismal, indeed.
“Have no fear,” said the owl prophet, not so gruffly as usual. “I have
promised the queen bee to help you. A great many creatures do not like
to go to school, but in after years they always regret it if they have
quit school before completing the course.”
Not a sound could be heard except the babbling of the brook and the
tinkling of a waterfall several rods away. Tiny shuddered, but said
nothing.
“These buildings were built by beavers,” explained the owl, although
it was so dark Tiny could not see them at all. “When they moved away,
Miss Hare started her school here. Only one of the beavers remained. He
is a skilled carpenter and janitor, and he keeps the building in good
repair. You no doubt have heard that he mixes mortar with his forepaws,
and uses his broad tail for a trowel. Young beavers stay at home till
they are three years old; then they build houses of their own. This
school is situated upon a stream of flowing water, as you see, for Miss
Hare thinks that little scholars should have plenty of water as well as
fresh air.”
[Illustration: “THE BUILDINGS WERE BUILT BY BEAVERS,” EXPLAINED THE
OWL.]
“I am glad that I came,” said Tiny, although he looked into the owl’s
yellow eyes with some distrust. He still feared that the wise prophet
might suddenly pounce upon him and eat him.
“Hoot! hoot! hoot! Is everybody asleep?” cried the wise owl. “I can’t
see why creatures want to sleep at night. I never close my eyes then,
for I have plenty of sleep in the daytime. Besides, one should always
be on the lookout at night, for one never knows what may happen.”
Soon there was a splashing in the water, and in a few moments a queer
animal approached them.
“It is the janitor,” explained the owl, somewhat annoyed by the delay.
“I fear he is getting lazy. He surely is not overworked, for all he
does is to look after the buildings, play, sleep, and eat the bark of
trees and the roots of water lilies.”
“I beg pardon for keeping you waiting so long,” said the beaver. “As
soon as I heard you, I rose to find out your wish.”
“I have brought a pupil to Miss Hare,” said the owl. “Please see that
he has a comfortable room for the night. Tell Miss Hare that I will
write her a letter soon.”
The owl prophet flew away, leaving Tiny with the beaver, who moved
sleepily back along the willow boughs to a group of quaint houses made
of mud, stones, and sticks. Their dome-shaped roofs were several feet
above the level of the water.
Suddenly, from the front window of one of the houses, a gleam of light
shot forth and an odd-looking animal thrust out its head.
Tiny, who by this time was accustomed to surprises, looked up to behold
Miss Hare gazing down upon him. She looked very comical in her white
nightcap.
“Well, well, well, what is the matter?” she cried in a high voice.
“My nerves are shaken by the dreadful noises I have heard. What is the
matter, Mr. Beaver?”
“Mr. Owl has brought another pupil,” said the beaver, politely. “I do
not know where to put him.”
[Illustration: “MR. OWL HAS BROUGHT ANOTHER PUPIL,” SAID THE BEAVER,
POLITELY.]
“Let him stay with Reynard Redfox to-night,” replied Miss Hare, looking
searchingly at Tiny. “What a frail little creature you are! You must
belong to the Rat family.”
Tiny did not like Miss Hare’s frank way of speaking, and to be
compared to a rat was not agreeable, but he said politely:
“I am Tiny Redsquirrel of Squirreltown. I desire very much to get an
education.”
“I will let you stay if you will obey the rules,” said Miss Hare,
severely. “I have always heard that red squirrels are very mischievous
animals. You must know that I will not permit any foolishness. Not long
ago Mr. Owl brought a pupil here who was so very saucy and naughty that
I was glad to get rid of him. Although I taught him the lessons of
kindness and charity, he bit Weenie Mouse and hit Winkie Weasel with an
acorn. One day he tore out one of Katie Goose’s feathers and frightened
the poor fowl almost to death. I never before saw such a bad creature.
He looked very much like you. Do you know Chatty Chipmunk?”
“Yes, ma’am,” replied Tiny, heartily ashamed of his youthful companion.
“Is he at this school?”
“No, he forsook us before he had been here three days,” answered Miss
Hare. “I think he must have been drowned. I will give you a trial; but
if you prove unworthy of my school I will never receive any more pupils
brought to me by Mr. Owl. Good-night.”
“Come on,” said the beaver. “I will take you to meet your roommate.”
“Oh, I cannot room with a red fox!” protested Tiny, much alarmed. “He
will eat me during his sleep.”
“You need have no fear,” said the beaver assuringly. “Miss Hare has
taught all her pupils the lesson of self-denial. She puts all sorts
of temptations in their way, but none of them ever yield unless they
are downright bad, as Chatty Chipmunk was. Reynard Redfox is very well
bred. He and Bantam Chicken are the best of friends. Wherever you see
Bantam, you may also see Reynard following after him.”
Tiny did not feel very comfortable when the beaver opened the door of
one of the buildings and told him to enter.
Three or four fireflies, whose duty it was to carry lanterns, flew
about the room, making it very light. Reynard Redfox, who was very
large compared with Tiny, rose and shook out his stiff, long-haired
coat. He gazed hungrily at the little red squirrel as though he were
starving for his companionship.
[Illustration: “MR. REDFOX, THIS IS MR. REDSQUIRREL,” SAID THE BEAVER.]
“Mr. Redfox, this is Mr. Redsquirrel,” said the beaver. “Mr.
Redsquirrel is a new scholar and Miss Hare said he should share your
room to-night.”
“He is most welcome,” said Reynard with a smile that made Tiny tremble
all over. “I always was fond of squirrels. I fancy we shall get along
famously together, as he takes up so little room.”
“I assure you I shall occupy as little space as possible,” replied
Tiny, politely. “I shall sleep here by the door, and, if I annoy you
during the night, all you have to do is to make a noise and I will jump
into the creek.”
“You are quite safe,” assured the fox, settling himself for a nap.
“Since I have been at this school I have learned how cowardly it is to
injure creatures smaller and weaker than myself. I hope you will like
our school.”
“I hope so, too,” said Tiny, faintly. “Of course, it will take time to
get acquainted with all the strange animals I shall meet. I have seen
little of the world.”
“Just be kind and unselfish, and you will make friends,” said the red
fox. “When you see another animal that doesn’t please you, don’t stare
at him as you did at me, but be as agreeable as you can. Remember that
it would be a very monotonous world if all animals should look and act
alike.”
“Miss Hare must be a very nice creature,” ventured Tiny.
“She is very wise and talented,” said the fox with enthusiasm. “Some of
the most aristocratic families in Animal Kingdom are represented in her
school. I have heard that she belongs to the nobility. You know she is
a Belgian Hare, and I believe I heard some one say that her father was
a Welsh Rabbit.”
At that moment a terrible thumping sound was heard.
“What is that!” exclaimed Tiny, unconsciously drawing nearer to Reynard
for protection.
“It is a warning for us to keep quiet,” said the fox. “Billy Beaver,
the janitor, makes that noise with his tail whenever we become
boisterous at night. You know that whenever a beaver wishes to warn
his companions that danger is near, he makes a thumping sound with his
tail. Really, the only clever thing about a beaver is his tail.”
The fireflies settled down to rest, leaving the roommates in darkness.
Although Reynard slept soundly, Tiny did not close his eyes until he
was so exhausted that he could keep them open no longer.