Jerry watched him out of sight. "Hump!" exclaimed Jerry. "Billy Mink is
in a terrible hurry this morning. Now I wonder what he is so anxious to
find Little Joe Otter for. When they get their heads together, it is
usually for some mischief."
Jerry climbed to the top of his house and looked over the Smiling Pool
in the direction from which Billy Mink had just come. Almost at once he
saw Grandfather Frog fast asleep on his big green lily-pad. The legs of
a foolish green fly were sticking out of one corner of his big mouth.
Jerry couldn't help laughing, for Grandfather Frog certainly did look
funny.
"He's had a good breakfast this morning, and his full stomach has made
him sleepy," thought Jerry. "But he's getting careless in his old age.
He certainly is getting careless. The idea of going to sleep right out
in plain sight like that!"
Suddenly a new thought popped into his head. "Billy Mink saw him, and
that is why he is so anxious to find Little Joe Otter. He is planning to
play some trick on Grandfather Frog as sure as pollywogs have tails!"
exclaimed Jerry. Then his eyes began to twinkle as he added: "I think
I'll have some fun myself."
Without another word Jerry slipped down into the water and swam over to
the big green lily-pad of Grandfather Frog. Then he hit the water a
smart blow with his tail. Grandfather Frog's big goggly eyes flew open,
and he was just about to make a frightened plunge into the Smiling Pool
when he saw Jerry.
"Have a nice nap?" inquired Jerry, with a broad grin.
"I wasn't asleep!" protested Grandfather Frog indignantly. "I was just
thinking."
"Don't you think it a rather dangerous plan to think so long with your
eyes closed?" asked Jerry.
"Well, maybe I did just doze off," admitted Grandfather Frog sheepishly.
"Maybe you did," replied Jerry. "Now listen." Then Jerry whispered in
Grandfather Frog's ear, and both chuckled as if they were enjoying some
joke, for they are great friends, you know. Afterward Jerry swam back to
his house, and Grandfather Frog closed his eyes so as to look just as he
did when he was asleep.
Meanwhile Billy Mink had hurried down the Laughing Brook. Half-way to
the Big River he met Little Joe Otter bringing home a big fish, for you
know Little Joe is a great fisherman. Billy Mink hastened to tell him
how Grandfather Frog had fallen fast asleep on his big green lily-pad.
"It's a splendid chance to have some fun with Grandfather Frog and give
him a great scare," concluded Billy.
Little Joe Otter put his fish down and grinned. He likes to play pranks
almost as well as he likes to go fishing.
"What can we do?" said he.
"I've thought of a plan," replied Billy. "Do you happen to know where we
can find Longlegs the Blue Heron?"
"Yes," said Little Joe. "I saw him fishing not five minutes ago."
Then Billy told Little Joe his plan, and laughing and giggling, the two
little scamps hurried off to find Longlegs the Blue Heron.
II
LONGLEGS THE BLUE HERON RECEIVES CALLERS
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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