Part 7 (2/2)

”Chugaru, as he swale and climbed up on it, ”That certainly was a close call If I have ht”

Nothingondering if it wouldn't be safe to take a nap when he saw peeping over the edge above hireenish yellow eyes, and they stared and stared Grandfather Frog stared and stared back He just couldn't help it He didn't knoho they belonged to He couldn't re seen them before He was afraid, and yet somehow he couldn't make up his mind to ju furry paly, very slowly, reaching doards him Nearer it crept and nearer Then suddenly itfelt sharp claws in his white and yelloaistcoat, and before he could even open his h the air and landed on his back in the grass

Pounce! Ts pinned hireenish yellow eyes were not an inch froed to Black pussy, Farmer Brown's cat

XXIII

THE DEAR OLD SMILING POOL ONCE MORE

Black pussy was having a good tireat fun for Black pussy to slip a paw under Grandfather Frog and toss hio away, but to hide instead, and the instant Grandfather Frog started off, to pounce upon him and cuff him and roll hi In the first place, he didn't knohether or not Black pussy liked Frogs to eat, and he was terribly frightened In the second place, Black pussy didn't always cover up her claws, and they pricked right through Grandfather Frog's white and yelloaistcoat and hurt, for he is very tender there

At last Black pussy grew tired of playing, so catching up Grandfather Frog in herto the Long Lane Grandfather Frog didn't even kick, which was just as well, because if he had, Black pussy would have held hihter, and that would have been very uncomfortable indeed

”It's all over, and this is the end,”to be eaten now Oh, hy did I ever leave the S Pool?”

Just as Black pussy slipped into the Long Lane, Grandfather Frog heard a familiar sound It was a whistle, a merry whistle It was the whistle of Far nearer and nearer A little bit of hope began to stir in the heart of Grandfather Frog

He didn't know just why, but it did Always he had been in the greatest fear of Farmer Brown's boy, but noell, if Faret away from him as he did before, but he was very sure that he never, never could get away from Black pussy

The whistle drew nearer Black pussy stopped Then she began tosound deep down in her throat

”hello, Black pussy! Have you been hunting? Coot,” cried a voice

Black pussy arched up her back and began to rub against the legs of Far sound in her throat grew louder and louder Farmer Brown's boy stooped down to see what she had in her mouth

”Why,” he exclaiot away from me! You don't want him, Puss I'll just put him in my pocket and take him up to the house by and by”

With that he took Grandfather Frog from Black pussy and dropped him in his pocket He patted Black pussy, called her a s merrily It was dark and rather close in that pocket, but Grandfather Frog didn'tsharp teeth and claws all the time He wondered how soon they would reach the house and ould happen to hi tih the air, and then he landed on the ground with a thurunt

Farmer Brown's boy had taken off his coat and thrown it down

The whistling stopped Everything was quiet Grandfather Frog waited and listened, but not a sound could he hear Then he saw a little ray of light creeping into his prison He squirmed and pushed, and all of a sudden he was out of the pocket The bright light made him blink As soon as he could see, he looked to see where he was Then he rubbed his eyes with both hands and looked again He wasn't at Farht on the bank of the S Pool, and a little way off was Fararuladdest chugaruarureat leap he dived with a splash into the dear old Sain has Grandfather Frog tried to see the Great World He is quite content to leave it to those who like to dwell there And since his oonderful adventures, he has been ready to believe anything he is told about what happens there Nothing can surprise his that happened to Chatterer the Red Squirrel, about which it takes a whole book to tell