diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 01:28:12 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 01:28:12 -0700 |
| commit | 1885df4948d9231af82f631436ed84ca933ea5d4 (patch) | |
| tree | f9700b4539d00bfae8e3bf2977b1a035e355b3ab | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20716-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 383028 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20716-h/20716-h.htm | 3579 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20716-h/images/illus-004.jpg | bin | 0 -> 102595 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20716-h/images/illus-027.jpg | bin | 0 -> 114450 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20716-h/images/illus-061.jpg | bin | 0 -> 87359 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20716-h/images/illus-095.jpg | bin | 0 -> 80972 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20716-page-images.zip | bin | 0 -> 6291361 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20716.txt | 2622 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20716.zip | bin | 0 -> 37095 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
12 files changed, 6217 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20716-h.zip b/20716-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..19b3fff --- /dev/null +++ b/20716-h.zip diff --git a/20716-h/20716-h.htm b/20716-h/20716-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..324262e --- /dev/null +++ b/20716-h/20716-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3579 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Tale of Timothy Turtle, by Arthur Scott Bailey + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + /*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ + <!-- + @media print { + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: x-small; background-color: inherit; + text-align: right; color: gray; display: none; visibility: hidden; } + } + @media screen { + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: x-small; background-color: inherit; + text-align: right; color: gray; display: inline; visibility: visible;} + } + + div.main {max-width: 40em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; + page-break-before: always; } + + p {text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .35em; font-size: medium; + text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .35em; line-height: 125%; } + p.titleblock {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-indent: 0; + text-align: center; line-height: 125%;} + p.titleblockl {margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em; text-indent: 2.25em; + text-align: left; line-height: 125%;} + p.chapter {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; line-height: 100%;} + p.noindent {text-indent: 0em;} + + h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; font-weight: normal; page-break-after: avoid ! important;} + h2 {margin-top: 2em; clear: both; + word-spacing: 0.6em; letter-spacing: 0.2em; + font-weight: 500;} + h3 {margin-top: 1em; clear: both; + word-spacing: 0.2em; } + + hr { width: 33%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + hr.chapter {width: 55%; margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0em; + page-break-before: always; } + hr.sorta {width: 45%; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + hr.minor {width: 30%; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + td.pr {text-align: right; padding-right: 10px; vertical-align: top;} + + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + .caption {font-size: 80%;} + img {border: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Tale of Timothy Turtle, by Arthur Scott Bailey + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Tale of Timothy Turtle + +Author: Arthur Scott Bailey + +Illustrator: Harry L. Smith + +Release Date: May 5, 2007 [EBook #20716] +[This file was first posted on March 1, 2007] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF TIMOTHY TURTLE *** + + + + +Produced by Joe Longo and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="main"> + +<h1><br /><br /><br />THE TALE OF<br />TIMOTHY TURTLE<br /><br /></h1> + + +<table width="380" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="" border="1"><tr><td> +<p class="titleblock" style="margin-top: 10px; font-size: 130%;"><i>SLEEPY-TIME TALES</i></p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 90%; margin-bottom: 8px;">(Trademark Registered)</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%;">BY</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 110%; margin-bottom: 10px;">ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%;">AUTHOR OF</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 130%; margin-bottom: 5px;"><i>TUCK-ME-IN TALES</i></p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%;">(Trademark Registered)</p> +<hr class="minor" /> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Cuffy Bear</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Frisky Squirrel</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Tommy Fox</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Fatty Coon</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Billy Woodchuck</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Jimmy Rabbit</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Peter Mink</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Sandy Chipmunk</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Brownie Beaver</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Paddy Muskrat</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Ferdinand Frog</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Dickie Deer Mouse</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Timothy Turtle</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Major Monkey</span></p> +<p class="titleblockl" style="font-size: 100%; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="smcap">The Tale of Benny Badger</span></p> +</td></tr></table> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 30px;"> +<a name="illus-001" id="illus-001"></a> +<img src="images/illus-004.jpg" width="400" height="569" alt="Timothy was going through the queerest motions." +title="Timothy was going through the queerest motions." /><br /> +<span class="caption">Timothy was going through the queerest motions.</span> +</div> + +<table width="400" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="" border="1"><tr><td> +<p class="titleblock" style="margin-top: 2px; font-size: 130%;"><i>S L E E P Y - T I M E T A L E S</i></p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 70%; margin-bottom: 0px;">(Trademark Registered)</p> +<hr class="minor" /> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 215%;">THE TALE OF</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 255%;">TIMOTHY</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 255%; margin-bottom: 10px;">TURTLE</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%;">BY</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 130%; margin-bottom: 5px;">ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%;">Author of</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 100%;">"TUCK-ME-IN TALES"</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 70%; margin-bottom: 50px;">(Trademark Registered)</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%;">ILLUSTRATED BY</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 100%; margin-bottom: 60px;">HARRY L. SMITH</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%;">NEW YORK</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 130%;">G R O S S E T & D U N L A P</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%; margin-bottom: 15px;">P U B L I S H E R S</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 60%;">Made in the United States of America</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<p class="center"><br /><br /><br /><br /> +<span class="smcap">Copyright, 1919, by</span><br /> +GROSSET & DUNLAP +<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<hr class="sorta" /> + +<h3><a name="Contents" id="Contents"></a>CONTENTS</h3> +<div class="smcap"> +<table border="0" width="80%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<col style="width:20%;" /> +<col style="width:70%;" /> +<col style="width:10%;" /> +<tbody valign="top"> +<tr> + <td class="pr" style="font-size: small" >CHAPTER</td> <td align="left"> </td> + <td align="right" style="font-size: small">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">I</td> + <td align="left">A Famous Biter</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#I">1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">II</td> + <td align="left">An Old-Timer</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#II">6</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">III</td> + <td align="left">Timothy's Grudge</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#III">11</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">IV</td> + <td align="left">A Tight Squeeze</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#IV">16</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">V</td> + <td align="left">Mr. Turtle's Mistake</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#V">21</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">VI</td> + <td align="left">Mr. Crow's Kind Offer</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#VI">26</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">VII</td> + <td align="left">Learning to Fly</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#VII">31</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">VIII</td> + <td align="left">Turning Turtle</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#VIII">36</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">IX</td> + <td align="left">A Pleasure Trip</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#IX">42</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">X</td> + <td align="left">A Warning</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#X">47</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XI</td> + <td align="left">On the Beaver Dam</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#XI">52</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XII</td> + <td align="left">Kind Timothy Turtle</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#XII">56</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XIII</td> + <td align="left">The Plot</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#XIII">60</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XIV</td> + <td align="left">Caught!</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#XIV">65</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XV</td> + <td align="left">The Redskins' Way</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#XV">70</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XVI</td> + <td align="left">Johnnie Green's Initials</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#XVI">75</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XVII</td> + <td align="left">Timothy Needs Help</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#XVII">82</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XVIII</td> + <td align="left">Peter Mink's Plan</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#XVIII">87</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XIX</td> + <td align="left">Careful Mr. Frog</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#XIX">91</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XX</td> + <td align="left">The Almanac</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#XX">97</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXI</td> + <td align="left">A Queer Wish</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#XXI">104</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXII</td> + <td align="left">The Unwelcome Guest</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#XXII">110</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXIII</td> + <td align="left">A Merry Song</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#XXIII">115</a></td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> +</div> + +<h3><a name="Illustrations" id="Illustrations"></a>ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> +<div class="smcap"> +<table border="0" width="450" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations"> +<col style="width:80%;" /> +<col style="width:20%;" /> +<tbody valign="top"> +<tr><td align="left">Timothy was going through the queerest motions.</td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#illus-001">Frontispiece</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">"Let Me In!" said Timothy to Mr. Frog.</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-002">18</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Timothy began to climb the steep bluff.</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-003">51</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">"Let me go!" Fatty Coon shrieked.</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-004">82</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> +</div> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">p. 1</a></span></p> +<h2>THE TALE OF<br />TIMOTHY TURTLE</h2> + +<h2><a name="I" id="I"></a>I</h2> +<h3>A FAMOUS BITER</h3> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">That</span> black rascal, Mr. Crow, was not the +oldest dweller in Pleasant Valley. There +was another elderly gentleman who had +spent more summers—and a great many +more winters—under the shadow of Blue +Mountain than he.</p> + +<p>All the wild folk knew this person by +the name of Timothy Turtle. And if they +didn't see him so often as Mr. Crow it +was because he spent much of his time on +the muddy bottom of Black Creek. Besides,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">p. 2</a></span> +he never flapped his way through +the air to Farmer Green's cornfield, in +plain sight of everyone who happened to +look up at the sky.</p> + +<p>On the contrary, Mr. Timothy Turtle +seldom wandered far from the banks of +the creek—for the best of reasons. He +was anything but a fast walker. In fact, +one might say that he waddled, or even +crawled, rather than walked. But in the +water he was quite a different creature. +By means of his webbed feet he could +swim as easily as Mr. Crow could fly. +And he could stay at the bottom of Black +Creek a surprisingly long time before he +came up for a breath of air. Indeed, Mr. +Crow sometimes remarked that <i>he</i> would +be just as well pleased if Timothy Turtle +buried himself in the mud beneath the +water <i>and never</i> came up again!</p> + +<p>Such a speech was enough to show that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">p. 3</a></span> +Mr. Crow was not fond of Timothy Turtle. +Perhaps Mr. Crow disliked to have a +neighbor who was older than he. But Mr. +Crow himself always laughed at such a +suggestion.</p> + +<p>"The trouble is——" he would say—"the +trouble is, Timothy Turtle is <i>too +grumpy</i>. Now, <i>I'm</i> old. But I claim that +that's no reason why I shouldn't be pleasant." +And then he would laugh—somewhat +harshly—just to show that he knew +how.</p> + +<p>There was a good deal of truth in what +Mr. Crow said. Timothy Turtle was +grumpy. But it was not old age that +made him so. He had been like that all +his life. There never was a time when he +Wasn't snappish, when he wouldn't rather +bite a body than not.</p> + +<p>And that was the reason why he had not +more friends. To be sure, many people<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">p. 4</a></span> +knew him. But usually they took good +care not to get too near him.</p> + +<p>For Timothy Turtle had a most unpleasant +way of shooting out his long neck +from under his shell and seizing a person +in his powerful jaws. In spite of his +great age he was quick as a flash. And +one had to step lively to escape him.</p> + +<p>If Timothy had bitten you just for an +instant, and then stopped, this trick of +his wouldn't have been so disagreeable. +But he was not content with a mere nip. +When he had hold of you he never wanted +to let you go. And it was no joke getting +away, once you found yourself caught by +him.</p> + +<p>As for Timothy Turtle, he never could +understand why his neighbors objected to +this little trick of his. He always said +that it was more fun than almost anything +else he could think of. And it is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">p. 5</a></span> +true that he never seemed so happy as he +did when he had caught some careless person +and was biting him without mercy.</p> + +<p>"Anybody that wants to may bite <i>me,"</i> +Timothy used to declare. But perhaps he +never stopped to think that one might almost +as well bite a rock as his hard shell. +And anybody might better chew a piece +of leather than try to take a mouthful out +of his legs, or his neck, or his head.</p> + +<p>So no one paid any heed to Timothy +Turtle's kind offer. Even Peter Mink, +who was himself overfond of biting people, +wisely let Mr. Turtle alone.</p> + +<p>There is no doubt that it was the safer +way.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">p. 6</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="II" id="II"></a>II</h2> +<h3>AN OLD-TIMER</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">It</span> was pleasant for Timothy Turtle that +he lived in Black Creek, for he was very +fond of fishing. If he had happened to +make his home among the rocks on the +top of Blue Mountain he would have had +to travel a long way to find even a trout +stream. But in Black Creek there were +fish right in his dooryard, one may say.</p> + +<p>It was lucky for him, too, that he liked +fish to eat. And whenever he wanted a +change of food the creek was a good place +in which to find a frog, or perhaps a foolish +duckling who had not learned to be +careful.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">p. 7</a></span></p> + +<p>It was no wonder that all the mother +birds in the neighborhood used to warn +their children to beware of Timothy Turtle. +Did not Long Bill Wren, who lived +among the reeds on the bank of Black +Creek, have a narrow escape when he was +only a few weeks old?</p> + +<p>He had just learned to fly. And although +his mother had told him not to +leave the bank, he disobeyed her. When +she was not watching him he sailed over +the water for the first time in his life and +alighted on a flat object on top of a rock.</p> + +<p>Bill supposed it was a stone that he was +sitting on. And he felt so proud of what +he had done that he cried, "Look! Oh, +look!"</p> + +<p>His poor mother was dreadfully frightened +when she saw him.</p> + +<p>"Come back!" she shrieked. "You're +in great danger!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">p. 8</a></span></p> + +<p>So Bill flew back to the bank as fast as +he could go.</p> + +<p>"What have I told you about Timothy +Turtle?" his mother asked him sharply.</p> + +<p>"You've said to keep away from him, +or he might eat me," young Bill faltered.</p> + +<p>"Exactly!" his mother cried. "And +the moment I glance away, here you go +and sit right on his back! It's a wonder +you're alive."</p> + +<p>Her son hung his head. And never +again did he pick out a perch until he was +sure it wasn't old Mr. Turtle.</p> + +<p>When he was older, and had children of +his own, Long Bill often remarked that it +was too bad Mr. Turtle didn't live in some +other place. "He makes my wife so nervous!" +he used to exclaim. "With a new +brood of at least a half-dozen youngsters +to take care of every summer one has to +watch sharp for Mr. Turtle whenever the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">p. 9</a></span> +children play near the water." And Long +Bill always took pains to tell his children +of his own adventure with Timothy Turtle +and warn them not to make such a +mistake.</p> + +<p>"Luckily I sat exactly in the center of +Mr. Turtle's shell, so he couldn't reach +me," Long Bill was explaining to his family +one day. "But if I had happened to +perch on his head I certainly wouldn't be +here now."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Turtle is too slow to catch +me," one of the youngsters boasted. "I +saw him on the bank to-day; and he only +<i>crawled</i>."</p> + +<p>"Ah! You don't know him," Long Bill +Wren replied. "When he wants to, he +can stand up on his hind legs as quick as +a wink. And he can dart his head out just +like a snake."</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" Long Bill's small son shivered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">p. 10</a></span> +as he spoke. "I wish Mr. Turtle would +go away from our creek."</p> + +<p>"<i>He</i> thinks it's <i>his</i> creek," Long Bill +Wren observed. "He has lived in it years +and years and years. We'll have to get +on with him as best we can, for there's +no doubt that Timothy Turtle is here to +stay."</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">p. 11</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="III" id="III"></a>III</h2> +<h3>TIMOTHY'S GRUDGE</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Sometimes</span> Fatty Coon liked a taste of +fresh fish, just by way of a change from +Farmer Green's corn, and blackberries, +wild grapes, bugs—and all the other dainties +on which he dined.</p> + +<p>So it happened that one day he visited +Black Creek, where he crouched near the +water with the hope that some silly fish +would swim within reach of his sharp +claws.</p> + +<p>For a long time he waited patiently. +And at last, to his great joy, a young pickerel +nosed his way through the shallow +water in front of him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">p. 12</a></span></p> + +<p>The newcomer was hunting flies. And +he did not notice the eager fisherman.</p> + +<p>Fatty Coon waited until just the right +moment. And then one of his paws +darted suddenly into the water.</p> + +<p>But instead of Fatty Coon catching the +pickerel, someone else caught Fatty Coon.</p> + +<p>His captor was no less a person than +Timothy Turtle himself, who had been +buried all this time in the mud almost +under Fatty Coon's nose. That is, his +body was buried. His head and neck he +had left free, so that he might strike at a +fish when one came his way. But he had +seen something else that took his fancy. +When Fatty's paw scooped into the water +Timothy Turtle just <i>had</i> to grab it.</p> + +<p>"Let me go!" Fatty Coon shrieked, for +Mr. Turtle's cruel jaws hurt him terribly.</p> + +<p>"Why, this is fun!" Timothy Turtle +muttered thickly, as he took a firmer hold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">p. 13</a></span> +on Fatty's paw. "Besides, I've been +wanting to talk with you for a long time."</p> + +<p>"Then you'd better let me go," Fatty +groaned, "because you can't talk well with +your mouth full."</p> + +<p>"I can say all I need to," Timothy Turtle +grunted. "And I know that if I +dropped your paw you'd run off."</p> + +<p>"Hurry, then!" Fatty Coon begged him +piteously. "Hurry and tell me what you +have to say. And please talk fast!"</p> + +<p>Timothy Turtle almost smiled.</p> + +<p>"Am I hurting you?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you are!" cried Fatty Coon.</p> + +<p>"Good!" Mr. Turtle snorted. "I meant +to, because I've a grudge against you."</p> + +<p>Fatty Coon couldn't think what he +meant.</p> + +<p>"I've never done a thing to you," he declared.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not!" Timothy Turtle admitted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">p. 14</a></span></p> + +<p>"But you stole Mrs. Turtle's +eggs—twenty-seven of them—and you +can't deny it."</p> + +<p>Now, it was true—what Timothy Turtle +said. Hidden among the reeds one +day, Fatty Coon had watched Mrs. Turtle +bury her eggs in the sand, to hatch. +And when she had gone he had crept out +from his hiding-place, dug up her precious, +round, white treasures, and eaten +them, every one.</p> + +<p>Well, Fatty Coon dropped his head in +front of Mr. Turtle. He was somewhat +ashamed, and frightened, too. And he +did not like to look into Timothy Turtle's +blinking eyes. "How did you know?" he +asked Mr. Turtle.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Turtle told me," said Timothy, +shifting his hold slightly, for a better one.</p> + +<p>"How did the old lady know who took +her eggs?" Fatty persisted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">p. 15</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mr. Crow saw everything that happened—and +don't you call my wife an old +lady!" Timothy Turtle spluttered.</p> + +<p>"Very well! She's a <i>young</i> one, of +course," Fatty said hastily. "But I don't +know how I've harmed you."</p> + +<p>"You don't, eh?" Timothy Turtle +snarled. "Then I'll explain. I meant to +have those eggs myself, young man!"</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">p. 16</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV</h2> +<h3>A TIGHT SQUEEZE</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Timothy Turtle's</span> remark was most surprising. +It almost took Fatty Coon's +breath away. And for a moment or two +he even forgot the pain in his paw.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say," he asked, "that +you like turtles' eggs!"</p> + +<p>"Do I?" said Timothy. "There's no +better treat, in my opinion, than a tender +young egg, especially if it's well mixed +with sand. And, of course, twenty-seven +of them are twenty-seven times as good."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry——" Fatty told him—"I'm +sorry that I ever touched the old—I mean +the <i>young</i>—lady's eggs. And now that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">p. 17</a></span> +you've almost bitten my paw in two, +please—good Mr. Turtle—let me go!"</p> + +<p>But good Mr. Turtle had no notion of +freeing his prisoner.</p> + +<p>"Not yet!" he snapped. "I'm going to +bite you twenty-seven times as long, and +twenty-seven times as hard—if I can."</p> + +<p>"But it was only a mistake!" Fatty +Coon moaned. "I never knew you wanted +those eggs yourself."</p> + +<p>"Take care——" said Timothy Turtle +sternly—"take care that you never make +such a mistake again."</p> + +<p>"Don't do that!" Fatty Coon suddenly +cried.</p> + +<p>"Don't do <i>what</i>?" was Mr. Turtle's +testy reply.</p> + +<p>"Don't pull on my leg!" Fatty Coon +pleaded. "You'll have me in the water in +another moment, and I'll get wet, and my +mother won't like it a bit."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">p. 18</a></span></p> + +<p>But Timothy Turtle paid no heed to +Fatty Coon's objections.</p> + +<p>"Certainly I'll pull you into the creek," +he declared. "I'm going to take you out +where the water's deep, and drag you +down, down, down to the very bottom. +We'll have lots of fun burying ourselves +in the mud. And I venture to say that +you'll like it so well down there that you'll +never want to come up again."</p> + +<p>If Fatty Coon was frightened before, +now he was terrified almost out of his +wits. And he began to claw frantically +at Timothy Turtle's head.</p> + +<p>Luckily he had three free paws. And +of these he made good use. In the shallows +near the bank he struggled with all +his might and main. And soon the water +was churned into a muddy pool.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 383px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="illus-002" id="illus-002"></a> +<img src="images/illus-027.jpg" alt='"Let Me In!" said Timothy to Mr. Frog.' +title='"Let Me In!" said Timothy to Mr. Frog.' width="383" height="551" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"Let Me In!" said Timothy to Mr. Frog.</span> +</div> + +<p>Fatty never knew exactly how he succeeded +in breaking loose from Mr. Turtle. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">p. 19</a></span> +Anyhow, he found himself free at last; +and he lost no time in scrambling up the +bank to safety.</p> + +<p>Afterward Timothy Turtle always complained +that Fatty Coon didn't "fight +fair."</p> + +<p>"He gouges," Timothy would explain. +"He'd just as soon stick one of his claws +into your eye as not. And I claim that's +something no real gentleman will do."</p> + +<p>Now, Fatty did not leave Black Creek +at once, after his adventure with Timothy +Turtle. He paused for a time, to squat +on the bank and nurse his injured paw.</p> + +<p>While he lingered there he happened to +glance up. And whom should he see, sitting +motionless in a tree near-by, but that +old rascal, Mr. Crow!</p> + +<p>"Oh! Naughty, naughty!" Mr. Crow +cawed in a mocking voice. "You've been +fighting."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">p. 20</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's all your fault," Fatty growled. +"If you'd minded your own affairs Timothy +Turtle would never have known anything +about those eggs."</p> + +<p>"Bless your heart!" old Mr. Crow +cried. "Timothy Turtle would have +seized you just the same, if you'd never +touched his wife's eggs. You don't know +him as well as I do."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not!" Fatty Coon replied. +"And what's more, I don't want to. I +never want to see Timothy Turtle again."</p> + +<p>Old Mr. Crow laughed merrily at that +speech. But Fatty Coon only turned his +back on him.</p> + +<p><i>He</i> was in no mood for laughter.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">p. 21</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="V" id="V"></a>V</h2> +<h3>MR. TURTLE'S MISTAKE</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Mr. Crow</span> was in no hurry to leave Black +Creek. And after Fatty Coon had limped +away the old gentleman still sat in the +tree which hung over the water. He +hoped that Timothy Turtle would crawl +out upon the bank and growl about Fatty.</p> + +<p>The old black rascal was not disappointed. +Fatty Coon had not been gone +long when Timothy Turtle dragged himself +out of the creek and stretched himself +upon the sand in the warm sunshine.</p> + +<p>"How's your eye?" Mr. Crow asked +him hoarsely.</p> + +<p>"It's feeling better; but it's a wonder<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">p. 22</a></span> +that I can see with it at all," Timothy +Turtle grumbled. "If I ever get hold of +that fat young fellow again I'll pull him +under the water before he knows what's +happened to him. He doesn't fight <i>fair</i>."</p> + +<p>Old Mr. Crow chuckled.</p> + +<p>"You'll never have another chance to +show him the right way," he remarked. +"He won't come near this creek, or my +name's not—ahem—Mr. Crow."</p> + +<p>"What's your first name?" Timothy +Turtle inquired, as he stared unpleasantly +at the speaker.</p> + +<p>"Never mind!" said the other. "Mr. +Crow will do, if you want to attract my +attention."</p> + +<p>Timothy Turtle frowned.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to," he retorted. "The +fact is, I'd rather be alone. I don't care +to have strangers peeping down at me +when I'm enjoying a sun-bath."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">p. 23</a></span></p> + +<p>"But I like to look at you," old Mr. +Crow assured him solemnly. "You make +me think of somebody I've known for a +good many years."</p> + +<p>"Ah! An old friend!" Timothy exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Well—not a <i>friend</i>, exactly," Mr. +Crow explained. "He lives in the South, +where I spend the winters. You look like +him, in many ways."</p> + +<p>"And his name?" Timothy Turtle said.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Alligator!"</p> + +<p>Timothy Turtle grunted.</p> + +<p>"Humph!" he said. "I've never heard +of him."</p> + +<p>"That's not strange," old Mr. Crow +told him. "He stays all the time in the +South and you stay all the time in the +North. You couldn't very well meet, you +see."</p> + +<p>"Your tail is a good deal like his," Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">p. 24</a></span> +Crow continued. "And when you walk +you have a trick of raising yourself sometimes +on your hind legs, with your head +and tail stretched out—a trick that reminds +me of him."</p> + +<p>For once Timothy seemed pleased.</p> + +<p>"Anything else?" he demanded, with +something that was almost like a smile. +Unfortunately, he had passed so many +years with a constant frown on his face +that smiling actually hurt him.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes! There is something else," +old Mr. Crow went on. "You and he have +the same way of <i>snapping</i> at things."</p> + +<p>There was no doubt, now, that Timothy +Turtle was gratified.</p> + +<p>"He must be a fine bird—this Mr. Alligator!" +he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Old Mr. Crow spluttered. And he had +to hang on tight to save himself from +tumbling off his perch.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">p. 25</a></span></p> + +<p>A bird! Timothy Turtle thought that +Mr. Alligator was a bird!</p> + +<p>The mistake was so amusing that Mr. +Crow wanted to laugh. But he knew that +would never do—if he wanted any more +fun with Timothy Turtle.</p> + +<p>So he pretended to cough. And he +wrapped his muffler more snugly about his +neck, remarking that there was a cold +wind that day, even though the sun <i>was</i> +warm.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">p. 26</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VI" id="VI"></a>VI</h2> +<h3>MR. CROW'S KIND OFFER</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">"I suppose——"</span> Timothy Turtle said to +his young friend, old Mr. Crow—"I suppose +Mr. Alligator is a fine flier."</p> + +<p>"He's a very powerful fellow," old +Mr. Crow replied with a sly smile.</p> + +<p>"Did you ever try to follow him?" +Timothy wanted to know.</p> + +<p>Mr. Crow shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No!" he answered. "I shouldn't +want to do that, because one never could +tell when he might take a notion to jump +into the water."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Then he can swim, can he?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly!" Mr. Crow assured him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">p. 27</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then that's another way in which he's +like me!" Timothy Turtle cried. "And if +I could only fly, I'd be still more like +him."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you learn?" Mr. Crow suggested +wickedly.</p> + +<p>"I'm too old," Timothy sighed.</p> + +<p>"Not at all!" Mr. Crow hastened to assure +him. "One can never be too old to +<i>try</i> a thing."</p> + +<p>But Timothy Turtle replied that even +if he was young enough to attempt such +a feat as flying, he hadn't the least idea +of the way to go about it.</p> + +<p>Old Mr. Crow was most helpful.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what you ought to do," +he advised. "You swim down the creek +as far as the big bluff. And it will be a +simple matter for you to climb up to the +top of the bluff and jump off the rock that +hangs high up over the water."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">p. 28</a></span></p> + +<p>Timothy Turtle looked far from happy +at that suggestion.</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't care to do that," he said.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" Mr. Crow asked him. +"You know there's only one way of +flying, and that's through the air."</p> + +<p>"I might fall," Timothy objected.</p> + +<p>"What if you did?" said Mr. Crow +glibly. "You'd only fall into the water. +And everybody agrees that you're a fine +swimmer.... You aren't afraid of getting +your feet wet, are you?" And he +laughed loudly at his own joke.</p> + +<p>For some reason Timothy lost his temper. +Perhaps he thought Mr. Crow was +disrespectful to his elders.</p> + +<p>"Look here, young man!" he snapped, +glaring angrily at old Mr. Crow. "If +you're laughing at me, I'll invite you to +drop down here and stand on the end of +my nose."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">p. 29</a></span></p> + +<p>Old Mr. Crow grew sober at once. The +mere thought of perching himself in so +dangerous a place was enough to put a +quick end to his noisy <i>haw-haws</i>.</p> + +<p>"My dear sir!" he cried. "I wouldn't +<i>dream</i> of standing on the nose of a fine +old gentleman like you. No indeedy! My +manners are too good for that."</p> + +<p>Timothy Turtle said bluntly that he had +always been told that Mr. Crow was the +rudest person in all Pleasant Valley—unless +it was Mr. Crow's boisterous cousin, +Jasper Jay.</p> + +<p>When he heard that, Mr. Crow pretended +to wipe a tear away from each of +his eyes.</p> + +<p>"I've always been misunderstood," he +declared mournfully. "I'm really a kind-hearted +soul. And just to prove to you +that I want to be helpful, I'll meet you at +the bluff any time you say, and tell you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">p. 30</a></span> +exactly what to do if you want to learn to +fly."</p> + +<p>Timothy Turtle seemed to think that the +chance was too good a one to lose.</p> + +<p>"I accept your offer," he shouted. +"And I'll start downstream this very moment."</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">p. 31</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VII" id="VII"></a>VII</h2> +<h3>LEARNING TO FLY</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Timothy Turtle</span> reached the overhanging +bluff in a surprisingly short time. +But it must be remembered that he did +not walk there on land, but swam down +Black Creek with the current. When he +crawled out upon the bank he was glad to +see that old Mr. Crow was waiting for +him, on a pine stump that stood near the +water.</p> + +<p>He failed utterly to notice that Mr. +Crow was not alone. Hidden in all sorts +of places were as many as a dozen of Mr. +Crow's friends. For the old gentleman +had invited his cousin, Jasper Jay, to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">p. 32</a></span> +come to the bluff "to enjoy the fun," as +he expressed it.</p> + +<p>"But don't let Timothy Turtle see +you!" Mr. Crow had warned Jasper. +"At least, don't let him know you're there +until after he has jumped off the big +rock."</p> + +<p>Jasper Jay had given his solemn promise.</p> + +<p>"And don't let him hear you, either," +Mr. Crow had said. And Jasper had +agreed to that, too, although he said that +it might be a hard thing to do.</p> + +<p>Well, Timothy Turtle crawled out upon +the bank and took a long look at the high +bluff above him, from which the great +rock hung over the water of the creek.</p> + +<p>"I believe——" he said to old Mr. +Crow—"I believe I'd better wait till to-morrow +before I try to fly. I've just had +a long swim, you know. And I want to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">p. 33</a></span> +feel fresh when I take my first lesson."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" Mr. Crow exclaimed. +"Everything's all ready. You're not too +tired, are you, to climb to the top of the +bluff?"</p> + +<p>"No," Timothy Turtle admitted.</p> + +<p>"Then you've no reason for waiting," +Mr. Crow assured him. "Coming down +will be much easier than going up."</p> + +<p>"I dare say that's true," Timothy remarked. +"But I don't quite like to think +about this business of flying."</p> + +<p>"Then you certainly ought not to wait +any longer," Mr. Crow urged him. "For +the longer you wait the more time you'll +have to think."</p> + +<p>That appeared to Timothy Turtle to be +a good bit of advice. And yet he still +seemed uneasy.</p> + +<p>"There's just one thing that troubles +me," he confessed. "After I've jumped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">p. 34</a></span> +from the rock I might find that I couldn't +fly. And I'd get a bad fall."</p> + +<p>"But you'd land in the water," Mr. +Crow reminded him. "And that would +be much better than falling on the land.... +I don't need to tell you," he added, +"that water is soft. And you're a fine +swimmer."</p> + +<p>So Timothy Turtle yielded. And thereupon +he began to drag himself up the steep +bluff.</p> + +<p>It seemed to Mr. Crow that he had never +known anybody to walk so slowly. But +then, of course, he was in a hurry to see +the fun. And it couldn't really begin until +Mr. Turtle should reach the big rock +and take the leap that Mr. Crow had suggested +to him.</p> + +<p>Jasper Jay and the rowdies he had +brought with him stirred impatiently. +And Jasper said aloud to one of them:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">p. 35</a></span></p> + +<p>"What an old slow-poke he is!"</p> + +<p>"What's that!" Timothy Turtle inquired, +as he stopped and looked around +at Mr. Crow.</p> + +<p>"I didn't speak," Mr. Crow told him.</p> + +<p>Timothy glared at his teacher for a few +moments. And Mr. Crow began to think +that Jasper Jay had spoiled the fun. But +at last Timothy Turtle plodded on. And +when his back was turned old Mr. Crow +flew over to the place where Jasper Jay +was hidden and whispered to him that he +had better keep still or there would be +trouble for him.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">p. 36</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a>VIII</h2> +<h3>TURNING TURTLE</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">So</span> Timothy Turtle struggled up the steep +face of the bluff. And as he neared the +top Mr. Crow began to hop up and down +upon the old pine stump. He was almost +bursting with silent laughter. But he succeeded +in keeping quiet. And now and +then he made threatening motions toward +Jasper Jay and his friends, who stuck +their heads from behind limbs of trees and +hummocks and bushes, lest they miss any +of the fun.</p> + +<p>Once on top of the great rock that +capped the bluff and hung out over the +creek, Timothy Turtle clung there and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">p. 37</a></span> +peered down at the gently flowing water +below.</p> + +<p>"What a long way it is down there!" he +called to Mr. Crow.</p> + +<p>"Don't think about that!" Mr. Crow +cautioned him.</p> + +<p>"Is this the way Mr. Alligator learned +to fly?" Timothy Turtle demanded.</p> + +<p>"Don't think about him!" Mr. Crow +shouted. "Just jump out as far as you +can!"</p> + +<p>"I believe I don't care to fly to-day," +Timothy Turtle faltered, drawing back +from the edge of the rock. "I——I'll +wait till some other time. You know, I'm +older than you are."</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut!" said Mr. Crow. "When +I'm your age I shall still be flying as well +as I do now. It's nothing, when you +know how. Nothing at all!"</p> + +<p>Urged by Mr. Crow, Timothy Turtle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">p. 38</a></span> +once more crept to the very edge of the +cliff and stretched his neck out as far as +he could, to gaze down at the black water. +And at last, after making several false +starts and drawing back to a place of +safety, he stood up on his hind legs, shut +his eyes, and hopped off into space.</p> + +<p>Now, the moment Timothy Turtle +leaped from the top of the bluff a deafening +squawk broke the silence. Old Mr. +Crow <i>cawed</i> as loud as he knew how. +But the racket he made was as nothing +compared with the uproar of Jasper +Jay and the noisy crew he had brought +with him. They squalled with delight as +Timothy Turtle plunged through the air +like a stone. And when he landed upside +down in the creek, striking the water +with a great splash, the whole company +shrieked louder than ever.</p> + +<p>"<i>Ha! ha! ha</i>!" Mr. Crow cried, holding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">p. 39</a></span> +his sides and rocking backwards and +forwards upon the old stump.</p> + +<p>"<i>Jay</i>! <i>jay</i>! <i>jay</i>!" Jasper and his +friends bawled, hopping up and down +and cutting capers in the air.</p> + +<p>As for Timothy Turtle, he made no +sound at all. And neither did he make +the slightest motion. The current of +Black Creek caught him and bore him +away down the stream. But at last he +managed to paddle ashore. And he pulled +himself slowly out of the water, and +lay upon the sand and groaned.</p> + +<p>Mr. Crow and his cronies gathered +quickly about him.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" Mr. Crow inquired. +"Don't you like flying?"</p> + +<p>It was some time before Timothy could +answer.</p> + +<p>"I've had an awful fall," he moaned +finally.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">p. 40</a></span></p> + +<p>"Where are you hurt?" Mr. Crow +asked him.</p> + +<p>"Everywhere!" Timothy Turtle told +him. "I thought you said that water was +soft to fall into."</p> + +<p>"Well, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"It certainly is <i>not,</i>" Timothy Turtle +declared. "I believe there's nothing +harder in the whole world.... I've +heard, sir, that you are very wise. But +for once, anyhow, you've made a great +mistake."</p> + +<p>Old Mr. Crow coughed—and winked at +his friends. "The trouble was"—he explained—"the +trouble was, you lost your +balance and landed in the creek upside +down. And of course you couldn't fly in +that position. It's what's called 'turning +turtle,'" he added, "and I might have +known—if I had stopped to think—that +you'd be sure to do it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">p. 41</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well," said Timothy Turtle, drawing +a long breath, "I'll tell you right now that +I'll never, <i>never</i>, turn turtle again."</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">p. 42</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IX" id="IX"></a>IX</h2> +<h3>A PLEASURE TRIP</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Almost</span> always the wild folk in Pleasant +Valley knew that if they wanted to see +Timothy Turtle they could find him somewhere +in Black Creek. But once in a +great while he liked to go on what he +called "an excursion." By that he meant +a pleasure trip to some spot not too far +away—never outside of Pleasant Valley.</p> + +<p>Nobody meeting Timothy Turtle on one +of those journeys would have suspected +that he was bent on pleasure. Or at least, +nobody would have supposed that Mr. +Turtle had found what he was looking +for. Certainly if he was hunting for fun,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">p. 43</a></span> +he never looked as if he had discovered +any. For no smile showed itself upon his +face. Instead, he met every one with a +frown. And if a body gave him a cheery +"Good morning," just as likely as not +Timothy would answer with a grunt, and +pass on.</p> + +<p>Naturally, when Timothy Turtle arrived +anywhere and told people that he +expected to spend a few days among them +they did not feel any great joy at the news. +On the contrary, they were quite likely to +say to one another, "I hope he won't stop +long," or "He looks more grumpy than +ever." And some would even remark +that they wished Timothy Turtle would +go home and stay there.</p> + +<p>So no one of the Beaver colony was +glad when Timothy appeared in their +pond one day and explained that he intended +to be in the neighborhood at least<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">p. 44</a></span> +a week. In the first place, the Beavers, +as a whole, were a busy, cheerful family, +who did not like disagreeable folk for +company. And in the second place, they +were spry workers; and they had little use +for anybody as slow as Timothy Turtle, +who never did any work at all.</p> + +<p>It is no wonder, then, that as soon as +the news of Timothy's coming spread up +and down and across the pond, the busy +Beavers stopped their work and said +things about the crusty outsider who had +forced himself upon them. And almost +everybody went to call upon Grandaddy +Beaver and asked him what he thought +ought to be done.</p> + +<p>Now, Grandaddy was a good old soul. +And he told the hot-headed younger members +of the colony to keep cool, which +seems a simple thing for them to have +done, swimming about as they were in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">p. 45</a></span> +icy water, which flowed down from +springs on the side of Blue Mountain.</p> + +<p>"Timothy Turtle has been here before," +Grandaddy Beaver announced. "I can +remember my great-grandfather's telling +me about his passing two whole weeks in +our pond. And though everybody wished +he would leave, he never harmed anybody, +because people kept out of his way."</p> + +<p>"Well, he ought to work while he's +here," said a brisk gentleman, tugging at +his moustache.</p> + +<p>"Timothy Turtle will never lift his +hand to do a single stroke of work," said +old Grandaddy Beaver. "He has already +spent a long life without working. And +he'll be lazy if he lives to be a hundred +years old—or even a hundred and fifty."</p> + +<p>Now, a young chap called Brownie +Beaver heard all this, as he stood in +Grandaddy's doorway and peeped inside<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">p. 46</a></span> +the house. And he thought it was a shame +that <i>somebody</i> couldn't make Timothy +Turtle mend his ways. To Brownie Bearer +it seemed that Timothy Turtle was old +enough to behave himself.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">p. 47</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="X" id="X"></a>X</h2> +<h3>A WARNING</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Timothy Turtle's</span> visit at the beaver +pond was just like all of his outings. +Wherever he went he was so disagreeable +and snappish that there wasn't a single +person in the whole village that didn't +wish Timothy had stayed away from that +place.</p> + +<p>He was forever grumbling, complaining +that the fishing was poor in the pond. +And as for frogs, he declared that he +hadn't seen even one.</p> + +<p>"Why anybody wants to live here is +more than I can understand." That was +what Timothy Turtle told everyone he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">p. 48</a></span> +met. And of course it was a poor way of +making himself welcome.</p> + +<p>"Why do you come here, if you don't +like our pond?" people asked him.</p> + +<p>"It's a change for me," was Timothy's +reply. "After I've spent a week with you +I'll be pretty glad to get back home again. +And I won't want to go on another excursion +for a whole year—or maybe two.</p> + +<p>"It's twenty years since I was here before. +And I sha'n't care to come again for +forty, at least."</p> + +<p>Now, such dreadfully rude remarks +hurt the Beaver family's feelings. And +when Timothy Turtle seized a fat lady by +the tail one day and wouldn't let her go +until sunset, her feelings were hurt most +of all. She cried that she had never been +so insulted in all her life.</p> + +<p>Timothy Turtle merely said that she +ought not to object. He explained that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">p. 49</a></span> +he had been <i>giving her a rest</i>—for of +course she couldn't cut down a tree, nor +work upon the dam that held the water in +the pond, while he clung fast to her tail.</p> + +<p>Well, this fat lady happened to be +Brownie Beaver's mother. And after her +disagreeable experience with the stranger, +Brownie made up his mind that he <i>would +make Timothy Turtle work</i>. That was +the worst punishment he could think of.</p> + +<p>Whenever the members of the Beaver +family were not sleeping, or eating, either +they were gathering food by cutting down +trees, or they were mending their dam.</p> + +<p>The dam always had leaks here and +there. And sooner or later every one of +them had to be stopped, before it grew so +big that the water would rush through it +and tear a hole so great that the pond +would be drained dry.</p> + +<p>During his stay among the Beavers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">p. 50</a></span> +Timothy Turtle often crawled on top of +the dam and stretched himself out and +watched the Beavers at their task. He +said that if there was one thing that he +liked to see more than another it was "a +gang of men working." But he complained +that they ought to work in the +daytime, when the sun was shining, because +then it would have been "much +pleasanter for him."</p> + +<p>"Don't you want to help us?" asked +the brisk fellow who had told Grandaddy +Beaver that he thought Timothy Turtle +ought to go to work.</p> + +<p>That question actually made Timothy +snort.</p> + +<p>"<i>Me work</i>?" he snapped scornfully, as +he glared at the speaker.</p> + +<p>Everybody knew what he meant. And +everybody knew how Timothy felt, too, +when he edged along the dam and made a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">p. 51</a></span> +savage pass at the plump gentleman who +had spoken to him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 389px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="illus-003" id="illus-003"></a> +<img src="images/illus-061.jpg" alt="Timothy began to climb the steep bluff." +title="Timothy began to climb the steep bluff." width="389" height="549" /><br /> +<span class="caption">Timothy began to climb the steep bluff.</span> +</div> + +<p>Luckily the brisk Beaver jumped aside +before Timothy Turtle's jaws closed on +him. And he did not say another word +to the stranger during the rest of his stay +at the pond.</p> + +<p>But Timothy Turtle became quite talkative. +He stopped all he met—old and +young both—and warned them that nobody +need try to get him to work, for he +never had worked, and he never intended +to.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">p. 52</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XI" id="XI"></a>XI</h2> +<h3>ON THE BEAVER DAM</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Timothy Turtle</span> was so angry that he +went about snapping at everybody and +everything. And since the whole Beaver +family kept carefully out of his way, he +had to content himself with setting his +jaws upon roots and sticks.</p> + +<p>Now, the Beavers' dam was made of +sticks and mud. So Timothy found +plenty of chances to bite. And because +he could not hurt the sticks, no matter +how much he tried, nobody cared.</p> + +<p>Really he acted in a most silly, surly +fashion.</p> + +<p>Out of a corner of his eye Brownie<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">p. 53</a></span> +Beaver watched Timothy Turtle closely. +Brownie had not forgotten how Timothy +seized his mother by the tail. And while +he was helping his elders on the dam, at +the same time he was trying to think of +some way to outwit Timothy Turtle.</p> + +<p>It happened that just at that time the +dam needed a great deal of mending. +There were so many holes to be filled that +the Beavers worked all night long. And +in spite of all their efforts they saw that +even then a few leaks would have to go +unmended. But they did not get snappish +nor lose their tempers. They were +not like Timothy Turtle. Though he slept +a great part of the night, and waked up +to watch the workers early in the morning, +his temper was worse than ever.</p> + +<p>He was paddling through the water +close to the dam when Brownie Beaver +called to him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">p. 54</a></span></p> + +<p>"You see that stick??" said Brownie, +pointing to a stout piece of box elder that +stuck out of the dam.</p> + +<p>"I'm not blind," Timothy Turtle +snarled back at him.</p> + +<p>"Well, please don't bite it, anyhow!" +Brownie Beaver begged him.</p> + +<p>That was enough for Timothy Turtle. +The mere fact that he thought somebody +didn't want him to do a certain thing was +sure to make him do it. So without saying +another word he seized that stick in +his powerful jaws. And bracing his feet +against the inner side of the dam, half in +the water and half out, he pulled with all +his strength.</p> + +<p>Now and then he turned his beady eyes +toward Brownie Beaver and frowned at +him, as if to say, "Don't give <i>me</i> any orders, +young fellow! I shall do just as I +please; and nobody can stop me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">p. 55</a></span></p> + +<p>Timothy noticed that Brownie went to +a number of the other workers and whispered +to them. And when everyone to +whom he spoke called to Timothy and +asked him if he wouldn't just as soon let +go of that stick and grab another one, that +crusty old codger made up his mind that +nobody should move him from that spot. +He took an even firmer hold and tugged +as if he meant to tear the whole dam +down.</p> + +<p>But the Beaver family knew that he +couldn't do any damage. And as soon as +it was light enough they all went home to +take a nap, leaving Timothy Turtle to pull +away to his heart's content.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">p. 56</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XII" id="XII"></a>XII</h2> +<h3>KIND TIMOTHY TURTLE</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">All</span> day long Timothy Turtle stayed on +the Beaver dam. And when the Beavers +returned in the evening, to resume their +work, they found Timothy still clinging +to the box elder stick.</p> + +<p>To Timothy Turtle's deep disgust the +plump workers gathered round him and +laughed. He could never bear to hear +people laugh—laughing was so silly, he always +said. And now Brownie Beaver +laughed louder than all the rest.</p> + +<p>"Look!" Brownie cried, pointing +straight at Timothy Turtle. "Isn't he +kind? He has stopped up that big hole<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">p. 57</a></span> +for us all day.... And now"—Brownie +added, turning to Timothy Turtle—"now +if you'll kindly <i>stop working</i> for us and +move aside we'll fill that hole that's right +under you, with mud."</p> + +<p>Timothy Turtle never felt more +ashamed in all his long life. There he had +been working all day long, helping the +Beaver family by plugging a hole in their +dam with his flat body—and he had never +guessed what he was doing!</p> + +<p>He let go of the stick and sank hastily +in the pond, where the water was deepest, +to bury himself in the soft bottom. And +there he stayed and sulked for the rest of +the week, until his visit was done. If he +stuck his head out of the water now and +then for a breath of air, he was careful to +let no one see him.</p> + +<p>He did not even bid the Beaver family +good-by at the end of his visit, but left in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">p. 58</a></span> +the middle of the day, when everybody +was sound asleep.</p> + +<p>Grandaddy Beaver said it was no more +than one could expect of a person so rude +as Timothy Turtle.</p> + +<p>"He was just like that in my great-grandfather's +time," the old gentleman +explained.</p> + +<p>And all the rest of the villagers remarked +that Timothy Turtle was old +enough to have better manners. Certainly, +they said, the youngest Beaver child knew +better than to treat people in such a rude +fashion.</p> + +<p>Brownie Beaver's mother especially announced +that she had never in all her life +met a gentleman who had treated her so +disrespectfully as old Mr. Turtle. And +she grew red and pale by turns as she recalled +how he had seized her by the tail +and held her fast for a whole day.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">p. 59</a></span></p> + +<p>"I hope," she said, "that by the time +he comes here again he will have learned +how to behave himself."</p> + +<p>But Grandaddy Beaver shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Timothy Turtle," he declared, "will +be no different even if he lives to be a +thousand years old."</p> + +<p>And everybody said that it was a great +pity.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">p. 60</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XIII" id="XIII"></a>XIII</h2> +<h3>THE PLOT</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Of</span> all the creatures that walked or swam +or flew, Timothy Turtle liked boys the +least of all. He said that if they ever did +anything except throw stones he had never +caught them at it.</p> + +<p>"It's a wonder"—he often remarked—"it's +a wonder that there's a stone left +anywhere along this creek. I've lived +here a good many years; and no boy ever +spied me sunning myself on a rock in the +water without trying to hit me."</p> + +<p>Once in a great while some youngster +was skillful enough to bounce a stone off +Mr. Turtle's back. And when the old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">p. 61</a></span> +scamp flopped into the water he always +heard a great whooping from the bank.</p> + +<p>At such times as likely as not Timothy +had been awakened from a sound sleep. +But when that jeering noise greeted his +ears he knew at once what had struck him.</p> + +<p>It was a good thing for him that he had +a hard back. Nevertheless it always made +him angry to be disturbed when he was +taking a nap. And some people said that +if Timothy Turtle ever grabbed a boy by +his great-toe, when he was in swimming, +that youngster would limp for many a +day thereafter.</p> + +<p>But the boys went in swimming just the +same. Black Creek would have had to be +alive with turtles to keep them out of it +on a hot summer's day. Indeed Farmer +Green often said that he wished his son +Johnnie would spend half the time in the +hayfield that he wasted around the creek.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">p. 62</a></span></p> + +<p>When questioned by his father, Johnnie +said that there was an old turtle in Black +Creek that he wanted to catch.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do with him—make +soup of him?" Farmer Green inquired +solemnly.</p> + +<p>Johnnie shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I want to cut my initials on his shell +and let him go," he explained. "Then if +I catch him again when I'm grown up +I'll know him when I find him.... I'll +put the date under my initials, too," +Johnnie added.</p> + +<p>Farmer Green laughed.</p> + +<p>"When you're grown up," he said, +"you'll have something else to do besides +catching snapping turtles. This afternoon +you may carve your initials on the hay-rake +and then take it over to the big +meadow and play with it."</p> + +<p>For a few moments Johnnie Green<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">p. 63</a></span> +couldn't help looking glum. He had intended +to visit the creek that very afternoon. +But now he knew that his father +expected him to work—to <i>work</i> on one of +the finest days of the whole summer!</p> + +<p>"I'll let you off all day to-morrow," +Farmer Green said. "And you know +there's that calf I told you I'd give you +if you helped me with the haying."</p> + +<p>And then Johnnie actually smiled.</p> + +<hr class="sorta" /> + +<p>Well, the next morning was just as fine +as the afternoon before. And Johnnie +Green set off early for Black Creek, with +his pockets stuffed full of cherries, because +he was afraid he might get hungry. +He ate a few of them on the way to the +creek. But when he reached that delightful +place he found something that made +him forget what he had in his pockets. +For there near the top of the bank, too<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">p. 64</a></span> +far from the water to escape him—there +lay Timothy Turtle himself, taking a sun-bath +on the warm sand.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">p. 65</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XIV" id="XIV"></a>XIV</h2> +<h3>CAUGHT!</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">As</span> soon as Johnnie Green saw Mr. Turtle +he let out a loud whoop. And as soon as +Mr. Turtle saw Johnnie, <i>he</i> scrambled up +and made awkwardly for the water as fast +as he could go.</p> + +<p>But Timothy's fastest, on land, was so +slow that Johnnie Green stopped him in +two seconds.</p> + +<p>Catching up a long stick, Johnnie thrust +it in front of Timothy Turtle, who +promptly seized it in his hooked jaws.</p> + +<p>Johnnie Green couldn't help laughing +at him.</p> + +<p>"You're a stupid old fellow!" he cried.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">p. 66</a></span> +"You could bite that stick all day and not +hurt me."</p> + +<p>But Timothy Turtle said never a word. +He wished, however, that he could shift +his grip to one of Johnnie's bare toes. He +rather thought, if he could have done +that, that Johnnie Green would give such +a yell as had never before been heard in +Pleasant Valley.</p> + +<p>But Johnnie was careful. After catching +Mr. Turtle he hardly knew what to do +with him. All summer long Johnnie had +kept his jackknife sharp as a razor, ready +to carve his initials on Mr. Turtle's hard +shell whenever the chance came. The +knife was in his pocket. There was Mr. +Turtle before him on the sand. And yet +Johnnie was puzzled.</p> + +<p>Close at hand his captive looked fiercer +than he had appeared at a distance, lying +on a rock in the creek. And his jaws had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">p. 67</a></span> +closed upon the stick in a vise-like hold. +Johnnie winced when he tried to imagine +how he would feel with Mr. Turtle fastened +firmly to a toe or a finger.</p> + +<p>It was not a pleasant thought. But +Johnnie Green soon had a happier one: +why not turn the old scamp over upon his +back?</p> + +<p>Johnnie had heard that a turtle was +helpless when upset in that way. And he +had already made up his mind to flop this +one over when he realized that even with +his captive upside down there was still a +certain difficulty.</p> + +<p>To be sure, Mr. Turtle couldn't walk +away. But he could bite just the same. +And how was a boy going to carve his +initials on anybody's back, when that person +was lying on it?</p> + +<p>Johnnie Green saw that that plan +wouldn't do at all. But he turned Timothy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">p. 68</a></span> +over, just for fun, upsetting him +neatly by lifting him on the stick—for +Timothy had not sense enough to let go +of it in time to save himself.</p> + +<p>Johnnie stayed there only long enough +to make sure that Timothy Turtle was unable +to move. And he soon decided that +the savage old rascal would have to lie on +his back until somebody came along and +tipped him over. Then Johnnie Green +scampered away.</p> + +<p>To be sure, Mr. Turtle wriggled his legs, +and twisted his neck about. But all his +wiggling and twisting were of not the +slightest help to him.</p> + +<p>It was the first time in his long life that +he had ever found himself in that position +on land. And he was both frightened and +angry.</p> + +<p>Old Mr. Crow, who had a way of knowing +when there was anything unusual going<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">p. 69</a></span> +on, arrived in time to hear Timothy's +remarks. And what he said about boys—and +especially about Johnnie Green—made +Mr. Crow catch his breath.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">p. 70</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XV" id="XV"></a>XV</h2> +<h3>THE REDSKINS' WAY</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Of</span> course Timothy Turtle was glad that +Johnnie Green was gone. But he was far +from happy, lying helpless on his back on +the bank of Black Creek.</p> + +<p>He told Mr. Crow that he hoped Johnnie +would forget to come back again—a +remark which made old Mr. Crow laugh. +Being very wise, he saw at once that Timothy +Turtle knew next to nothing about +boys.</p> + +<p>"I should think," Mr. Crow told Timothy, +"you'd want Johnnie Green to return."</p> + +<p>"Why?" Timothy snapped out his question<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">p. 71</a></span> +in an angry tone, as he lay there upside +down and stared at old Mr. Crow, who +sat in a tree near-by.</p> + +<p>"Well," Mr. Crow answered, "who'll +set you on your feet again if he doesn't?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you worry about me!" Timothy +Turtle sneered. "I'll right myself as soon +as there's a freshet. If there's a big +enough rain the creek will rise as high as +I am now. And nobody could keep me on +my back in the water."</p> + +<p>Old Mr. Crow actually snickered.</p> + +<p>"You might have to wait till next spring +for a freshet," he said cheerfully. "And +what would you eat meanwhile?"</p> + +<p>Having had a hearty meal of fish just +before leaving the creek, Timothy Turtle +hadn't once thought of <i>eating</i>. And naturally +Mr. Crow's question troubled him. +So he frowned frightfully. And he +snapped his hooked jaws together, for he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">p. 72</a></span> +had to take something in his jaws and bite +it, if it was no more than the air.</p> + +<p>"I suppose"—Mr. Crow remarked—"I +suppose you would call that <i>taking the +air, eh</i>?" And there was a merry twinkle +in his eye.</p> + +<p>"Go away!" Timothy Turtle growled.</p> + +<p>But his guest declined to leave.</p> + +<p>"There's likely to be some fun here," +he thought, "and I don't intend to miss +it."</p> + +<hr class="sorta" /> + +<p>If Timothy Turtle was surprised, Mr. +Crow certainly was not, when a little later +Johnnie Green and another boy whom he +called "Red" (on account of his hair) +came hurrying up to the spot where Timothy +Turtle lay.</p> + +<p>Upon the ground they dropped a number +of things, such as pieces of rope, an +old grain-sack, and an axe.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">p. 73</a></span></p> + +<p>"Goodness!" said Mr. Crow to himself, +as he looked on. "I'm glad I'm not Timothy +Turtle. It appears to me that he's +going to have a terrible time."</p> + +<p>And Timothy himself seemed to think +the same. He made savage passes at +Johnnie and Red whenever they came near +him. But they took good care to keep beyond +his reach.</p> + +<p>On the whole their captive behaved in +a most foolish manner. Instead of drawing +his head as far as he could into his +shell, he thrust his neck out as far as it +would go.</p> + +<p>And that was exactly what the boys +wanted him to do. Before Timothy Turtle—who +was somewhat slow-witted—before +he realized what their plan was, +Johnnie Green and his friend Red had +slipped one noose around his head and another +around his body. And after turning<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">p. 74</a></span> +their captive right side up they staked +him out upon the sand so that he could not +move.</p> + +<p>"There!" Johnnie Green cried when +they had Timothy Turtle where they +wanted him. "That's the way the Redskins +do with their enemies."</p> + +<p>And his friend the red-haired boy +danced something that might have been +an Indian war dance.</p> + +<p>Anyhow, neither old Mr. Crow nor Timothy +Turtle had ever seen anything like +it.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">p. 75</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XVI" id="XVI"></a>XVI</h2> +<h3>JOHNNIE GREEN'S INITIALS</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Timothy Turtle</span> found himself in a very +uncomfortable position, staked out as he +was on the bank of Black Creek, with one +rope about his body and another about his +neck.</p> + +<p>And even then Johnnie Green was not +satisfied. Though his friend Red insisted +that their captive could do them no harm +(saying, "How can he bite when he can't +move his head?") Johnnie Green replied +that he would "fix him" so there couldn't +possibly be any accident. And taking the +old grain-sack he had brought back with +him, he wrapped it carefully around Timothy's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">p. 76</a></span> +head, till he looked for all the +world as if he had the earache.</p> + +<p>"There!" Johnnie Green said, when he +had finished. "He'll have to bite through +that bag before he bites us; and I guess +he'll find he has a pretty big mouthful."</p> + +<p>Then he pulled out his jackknife and felt +its sharp edge with his thumb.</p> + +<p>"Lemme do it for you!" Red begged +him, holding out his hand for the knife.</p> + +<p>But Johnnie Green had no such idea.</p> + +<p>"No!" he said firmly. "I've got to cut +my initials myself."</p> + +<p>"He might get loose and grab you," the +red-haired boy remarked hopefully.</p> + +<p>But Johnnie Green told him that he +would risk that.</p> + +<p>"Which way are you going to cut +them?" Red asked him.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" Johnnie inquired.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">p. 77</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are you going to make 'em read when +he's going or coming?" Red explained.</p> + +<p>"I hadn't thought of that," Johnnie +Green replied. "But I guess <i>going</i> would +be better. Then if he stands up you can +read 'em just the same, without any +trouble."</p> + +<p>So Johnnie kneeled down beside Timothy +Turtle. It took him some time to +decide just where he would carve his initials +on Timothy's shell. And he had +about decided that the best place to put +his mark on Mr. Turtle's back would be +exactly in the middle of it, when he cried +all at once, "Look, Red! Look!"</p> + +<p>"Whassamatter?" the red-haired boy +wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"This is the queerest thing I ever heard +of!" Johnnie exclaimed. "Here are my +initials already cut!"</p> + +<p>Red could not believe him, until he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">p. 78</a></span> +peered at Timothy's shell himself. And +then he saw that what Johnnie had said +was true.</p> + +<p>"There's a date, too," Johnnie pointed +out. And he read it aloud. "That's +more'n thirty years ago," he declared.</p> + +<p>But the red-haired boy laughed boisterously.</p> + +<p>"Shucks!" he jeered. "Somebody's +been playin' a joke on you. Somebody +knew you were lookin' for this old turtle +and put your initials and that old date on +him just to puzzle you."</p> + +<p>Johnnie Green didn't know exactly +what to think. But probably he was no +more upset than was Timothy Turtle, +who was not having a good time at all.</p> + +<p>"I don't care if some one did catch this +turtle first," Johnnie said at last. "I'm +going to carve my mark on him just the +same."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">p. 79</a></span></p> + +<p>So he began to cut "J. G." in the exact +center of the back of Timothy Turtle, +much to that old fellow's rage.</p> + +<p>And when Johnnie Green had finished +the letters he cut the date below them.</p> + +<p>"What you goin' to do with him now?" +Red asked Johnnie then.</p> + +<p>"Turn him loose!" Johnnie replied.</p> + +<p>"Aw—don't do that! Lemme have +him!" Red coaxed.</p> + +<p>Johnnie Green said that he was sorry—but +he intended to set his captive free, just +as he had planned.</p> + +<p>He soon found that turning Mr. Turtle +loose was no easy matter. Strange to say, +Timothy Turtle did nothing to help. On +the contrary, he made the task as hard as +he could for Johnnie Green, trying his +best to bite that young man.</p> + +<p>In the end Johnnie had to cut the rope +that held Timothy's head. And when that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">p. 80</a></span> +furious old fellow at last found himself in +Black Creek once more he still wore a +noose of rope, like a collar, around his +neck.</p> + +<hr class="sorta" /> + +<p>When Johnnie Green told his father +about his adventure with Timothy Turtle, +he had a great surprise. Farmer +Green said that when he was just about +Johnnie's age he had cut <i>his</i> initials on a +turtle, down by the creek.</p> + +<p>Now, since Johnnie was named for his +father, their initials had to be alike. So +the J. G.—and the old date—that Johnnie +had found must have been carved by +Farmer Green when he was a youngster.</p> + +<p>Somehow, Johnnie found it very hard +to imagine that his father had ever been +a boy like himself and had spent his time +playing near the creek, and carving his +initials on the back of a turtle.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">p. 81</a></span></p> + +<p>"How old do you suppose that turtle +is?" he asked his father.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he must be a regular old settler," +Farmer Green declared. "He may have +been around here when your grandfather +was a boy, for all I know."</p> + +<p>"Do you really believe that?" Johnnie +exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Well," his father answered, "there's +only one way to find out."</p> + +<p>"What's that?" Johnnie inquired eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Ask Mr. Turtle himself," Farmer +Green replied with a smile.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">p. 82</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XVII" id="XVII"></a>XVII</h2> +<h3>TIMOTHY NEEDS HELP</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Everybody</span> who lived near Black Creek +noticed Timothy Turtle's new collar. And +almost every one, being curious, asked Mr. +Turtle where he got it, and why he was +wearing it.</p> + +<p>Now, Timothy Turtle would give such +folk no answer at all. But old Mr. Crow +knew what had happened—of course. +And he took pains to tell all his +friends how Johnnie Green had caught +Timothy and tied a rope around his neck, +and cut something on Timothy's back, besides.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 384px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="illus-004" id="illus-004"></a> +<img src="images/illus-095.jpg" alt='"Let me go!" Fatty Coon shrieked.' +title='"Let me go!" Fatty Coon shrieked.' width="384" height="550" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"Let me go!" Fatty Coon shrieked.</span> +</div> + +<p>So it was not long before Timothy Turtle's +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a></span>neighbors began to ask him what was +on his back.</p> + +<p>"My shell's on my back!" he snapped, +when any one put that question to him.</p> + +<p>"Yes—but what's on your shell?" +everybody was sure to answer back.</p> + +<p>Timothy Turtle couldn't have replied to +that question, even if he had wanted to. +And though he always sneered when hearing +it and turned his head away, as if the +matter was something he didn't care to +talk about, there was nobody who was any +more eager to know the answer than he.</p> + +<p>To be sure, by raising his head he could +get a slanting view of the top of his shell. +But such a glimpse was not enough to tell +him anything.</p> + +<p>Under the constant inquiries of his +neighbors Timothy's curiosity grew +every day. Soon he took to staring at his +reflection in the surface of the water, with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">p. 84</a></span> +the hope that he might be able to see his +back in that way.</p> + +<p>But it was all in vain. Though Timothy +twisted and turned and stretched his +long neck, he couldn't see his own back, +no matter how much he tried.</p> + +<p>Now, there was an ill-mannered scamp +named Peter Mink who happened to go +prowling up the creek one day. And as +he quietly rounded a bend he came upon +an odd sight.</p> + +<p>In front of him, and perched on a rock +in the midst of the water, Timothy Turtle +was going through the queerest motions. +He seemed to be peering into the water at +something, while wriggling about in a most +peculiar fashion.</p> + +<p>He did not notice Peter Mink, who stood +stock still and watched him for some time +without speaking.</p> + +<p>At last Peter's prying ways got the better<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">p. 85</a></span> +of him. He simply had to say something.</p> + +<p>"What on earth are you doing!" he +called to Timothy.</p> + +<p>Mr. Turtle gave a great start.</p> + +<p>"I'm looking at myself—that's all," he +said. He was so surprised that for once +he actually answered a question politely.</p> + +<p>His reply amused Peter Mink. And +that ill-bred rascal laughed right in Timothy +Turtle's face.</p> + +<p>"Time must hang heavy on your hands, +if you can't find anything pleasanter to +do than that," he remarked—for Peter +Mink never cared how rude he was. In +fact he liked to make unkind remarks. +"Aren't you afraid," he added, "that +you'll wear out the surface of the creek, +gazing into it? I shouldn't like that very +well," said Peter Mink, "because then it +couldn't freeze in winter, and you know<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">p. 86</a></span> +it's great sport to hunt muskrats under +the ice."</p> + +<p>Well, Peter's speech alarmed Timothy +Turtle. And yet he felt that he could not +rest until he knew what was on his back. +So he asked Peter Mink to meet him on +the bank.</p> + +<p>"I want you to help me," he said. "I +have reason to believe that there's something +written on my back. And you must +tell me what it is."</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">p. 87</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XVIII" id="XVIII"></a>XVIII</h2> +<h3>PETER MINK'S PLAN</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Now</span> Peter Mink had never learned to +read. In the first place, he had never had +a chance to learn. And in the second, he +was such a good-for-nothing rascal that +he wouldn't have gone to school anyhow.</p> + +<p>But he did not tell all this to Timothy +Turtle. When he stepped behind Timothy +and gazed at his back, Peter Mink +thought of a fine way to tease the old fellow.</p> + +<p>Of course, he had not the slightest idea +what those marks on Mr. Turtle's shell +meant. But he looked down at them with +a wise smile.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">p. 88</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Turtle, watching Peter out of the +corner of his eye, saw that smile; and he +did not like it in the least. In fact, it +made him feel quite peevish.</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you see?" he asked +Peter Mink impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" Peter Mink replied with a shake +of his small head. "I'm not going to tell +you, Mr. Turtle. I don't want to hurt +your feelings. And if I were to explain +that your back says you're a disagreeable, +mean old scamp, you know you'd be very +angry."</p> + +<p>Peter Mink jumped out of the way just +in time. For Timothy Turtle wheeled +with amazing swiftness and snapped at +his tormentor.</p> + +<p>"Don't do that!" Peter cried. "<i>I</i> +didn't say anything about you, Mr. Turtle."</p> + +<p>"You'd better not," Timothy warned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">p. 89</a></span> +him. "And if Johnnie Green carved any +such words as those on my shell I don't +know what to do. I certainly don't want +to carry them about with me for the rest +of my life." He looked unhappy, to say +the least. He knew that probably he would +live a great many years longer. And he +was puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you get a new shell?" +Peter Mink inquired.</p> + +<p>"I'd hate to do that," Timothy Turtle +told him. "I've had this one a long time; +and it fits me perfectly."</p> + +<p>"Then why don't you get the well-known +tailor, Mr. Ferdinand Frog, to +make you a coat that will cover your +back? If you did that, nobody could see +what's on your shell."</p> + +<p>"A good idea!" Timothy Turtle exclaimed. +"I'll see Mr. Frog at once. And +some day I'll do something handsome for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">p. 90</a></span> +you, because you've been a great help to +me."</p> + +<p>"Why wait?" Peter Mink demanded. +"Why don't you do it now?" Knowing +that Timothy was stingy, Peter thought +that the old gentleman would soon change +his mind about "doing something handsome" +for him.</p> + +<p>"No!" Timothy Turtle declared. "I +want to wait a while and think it over."</p> + +<p>"Well, then," Peter Mink urged him, +"why don't you crawl under that shelving +rock and think it over right now?"</p> + +<p>"You ask too many questions," Mr. +Turtle told him. "And besides, I must +hurry away and find Ferdinand Frog. I +want my new coat as soon as I can get it. +And the longer I stay here, the more time +I shall lose." So in spite of all Peter +Mink could say, Timothy slipped into +Black Creek and swam away.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">p. 91</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XIX" id="XIX"></a>XIX</h2> +<h3>CAREFUL MR. FROG</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Somebody</span> had knocked. And with a wide +smile upon his face Mr. Ferdinand Frog, +the tailor, went to his door and peeped +out.</p> + +<p>One look was enough. He shut the +door again with great haste and barred it. +And he held one hand over his heart, as if +he had just received a terrible fright.</p> + +<p>"Let me in!" somebody called. The +tailor knew that it was Timothy Turtle's +voice, for he had seen that crusty old person +standing upon his doorstep.</p> + +<p>"Go away!" Mr. Frog replied. "I'm +not here."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">p. 92</a></span></p> + +<p>He was an odd chap—this Ferdinand +Frog. One never could tell what he was +going to do—or say.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you are!" Timothy Turtle insisted. +"I saw you only a moment ago."</p> + +<p>The tailor then peered out of the window +at his caller.</p> + +<p>"There you are now!" Timothy shouted, +as he caught sight of Mr. Frog. "I +say, let me in!"</p> + +<p>"I can't," Mr. Frog answered. "I'm +sick a-bed."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" Timothy cried.</p> + +<p>"Well, I expect I'll be ill if you don't +go away," the tailor answered. "I'm having +a nervous chill this very moment."</p> + +<p>He was afraid of Timothy Turtle. And +it was no wonder. For Timothy had tried, +more than once to make a meal of the nimble +Mr. Frog.</p> + +<p>"I haven't come here to hurt you,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">p. 93</a></span> +Timothy Turtle explained, trying to smile +at the face in the window. "I want you +to make me a new coat—a big one that will +cover my back all over."</p> + +<p>To his great disappointment Mr. Frog +shook his head with great force.</p> + +<p>"I'm not interested," he announced.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean"—Timothy Turtle faltered—"do +you mean that you won't +make a coat for me?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly!"</p> + +<p>"Why?" Timothy pressed him.</p> + +<p>"Too busy!" was Mr. Frog's answer.</p> + +<p>"Who is?"</p> + +<p>"You are!" said Mr. Frog. "Ever +since I've known you, you've been trying +to catch me and my friends."</p> + +<p>"Why—er—I was only joking," Timothy +Turtle told him. "You mustn't mind +my playful ways. Just make me a coat +and I'll do something handsome for you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">p. 94</a></span></p> + +<p>It was now the tailor's turn to ask questions.</p> + +<p>"What"—he inquired—"what will you +do?"</p> + +<p>"I couldn't just say at this moment," +Timothy replied.</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'd want to think a while," said +Timothy Turtle.</p> + +<p>"Very well!" was the tailor's answer. +"I've no objection, though it's something +I never do myself."</p> + +<p>"I wish you'd come outside a moment, +since you don't want me inside your +shop," Timothy remarked. "I'd like to +whisper to you."</p> + +<p>"I'm deaf," Mr. Frog informed him. +"I couldn't hear a single word, even if +you were to shout your head off."</p> + +<p>"You can hear what I'm saying now +well enough," Timothy pointed out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">p. 95</a></span></p> + +<p>"I read the lips," said Mr. Frog with a +snicker.</p> + +<p>That speech made Timothy Turtle +start.</p> + +<p>"Then if you can read my lips, no doubt +you can read what's on my back," he +said.</p> + +<p>"That's easy," the tailor observed. +"Your shell's on your back, of course."</p> + +<p>Timothy Turtle glanced up with a look +of scorn.</p> + +<p>"Don't be silly!" he snapped. "I mean, +can you read what's carved on my shell?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly!" Mr. Frog replied. And +he began to mutter, as if to himself, "J. G.—that +means <i>just grumpy</i>, of course——"</p> + +<p>Timothy Turtle interrupted him quickly.</p> + +<p>"I don't care to hear any more," he +screamed. And turning away, he waddled +towards the water.</p> + +<p>"That Ferdinand Frog has no manners,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">p. 96</a></span> +he spluttered. "I only wish he +wasn't quite so spry." And Mr. Turtle +looked very fierce as he snapped his jaws +together.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">p. 97</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XX" id="XX"></a>XX</h2> +<h3>THE ALMANAC</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">One</span> rainy night Peter Mink stopped at +Black Creek; and calling loudly to Timothy +Turtle he asked for a place to sleep.</p> + +<p>"You remember," he said, when Timothy +drew himself upon the bank, "you +told me that you would do something +handsome for me some time. And now +that I'm wet and tired I hope you can +offer me a snug, dry spot in which to spend +the night."</p> + +<p>"What can you do to pay me?" asked +Timothy Turtle. He never did anything +for anybody without pay. "Can you saw +wood?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">p. 98</a></span></p> + +<p>Now, Peter Mink would rather stay out +in the rain forever than saw a single stick +of wood. So he said:</p> + +<p>"No, I can't!" just like that.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's about time you learned," +said Timothy Turtle.</p> + +<p>Peter Mink was about to leave in disgust; +and he was wondering what name +he would call Timothy Turtle, when he +was a little further away, when he noticed +that Timothy had a thin book in his hand.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" Peter asked.</p> + +<p>"It's the Farmer's Almanac," said +Timothy Turtle. "I've been looking +through it; but my eyes are bad and I +can't read."</p> + +<p>Now that was quite true; for Timothy's +eyes <i>were</i> bad—and he had never learned +to read.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what I'll do," Peter Mink +announced. "If you'll give me a place to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">p. 99</a></span> +spend the night I'll read the Farmer's Almanac +to you."</p> + +<p>"Come right in!" Timothy Turtle cried, +leading the way to a cozy nook beneath a +big rock which was not far from the +water. And Peter Mink was very glad to +creep inside that comfortable shelter. He +took the Almanac from Timothy Turtle +and they both sat down.</p> + +<p>Peter opened the book.</p> + +<p>"I see," he said, "that it says the +weather was fair to-day, but look out for +a heavy rain to-night!"</p> + +<p>Now, Timothy Turtle had not felt quite +sure that Peter Mink knew how to read. +But when he heard that he quickly +changed his mind.</p> + +<p>"That's exactly what's happened!" he +exclaimed. And he was greatly pleased.</p> + +<p>But the next moment he noticed that +Peter Mink was holding the book upside<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">p. 100</a></span> +down. Timothy could tell that because +the picture of the man ploughing, on the +cover, was upside down.</p> + +<p>"You can't read!" he cried angrily. +"You don't even know how to hold a +book. You've got it bottom side up!"</p> + +<p>But Peter Mink only smiled pleasantly +at him.</p> + +<p>"You don't understand," he said. +"That's the way I was taught to read. +Then, if you want to read when standing +on your head, you don't need to turn the +book over.... It's the latest method," +he explained.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Timothy Turtle. "That's +different!"</p> + +<p>"Yes—quite different!" said Peter +Mink.</p> + +<p>"What does the Almanac say about next +week?" Timothy inquired.</p> + +<p>"Time to plant corn!" Peter told him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">p. 101</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's so!" said Timothy Turtle. +"Mr. Crow was telling me this very day +that Farmer Green was ploughing his +cornfield; but of course that doesn't interest +me much.... What else does the +book say?" Timothy continued.</p> + +<p>"Well, here's some general advice," +Peter Mink remarked, as he looked at the +Almanac again. "It says: 'If anybody +comes to you and asks for a place to sleep, +give him a bed—but first of all, give him a +good supper.'"</p> + +<p>"I don't believe I want to hear any +more to-night," said Timothy Turtle hastily. +"It's late; so we'd better go to bed +right away."</p> + +<p>Peter Mink was somewhat disappointed. +He had hoped to get a fish or two to eat. +But there was nothing he could say, +though he did wish Timothy Turtle could +take a hint.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">p. 102</a></span></p> + +<p>"In the morning you can read to me +again," Timothy told him.</p> + +<p>So they went to bed.</p> + +<p>But in the morning the Almanac was +nowhere to be found. Timothy Turtle +hunted for it in every place he could think +of—except Peter Mink's pocket.</p> + +<p>After Peter had gone, Timothy continued +his search. And at last he found +the Almanac beneath the heap of dry +leaves which Peter Mink had used for a +bed.</p> + +<p>"That's queer!" Timothy Turtle said. +"I'm almost sure I looked there before +Peter Mink went away.... My eyes +must be growing worse."</p> + +<p>The more he thought of the matter, the +gladder he was that he hadn't found the +book before. For there was no knowing +but that Peter Mink might have found +some advice about giving a good breakfast<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">p. 103</a></span> +to a guest who stayed over night.</p> + +<p>Then Timothy Turtle went into Black +Creek and caught a fine fish, for he was +hungry. And he enjoyed his meal mightily, +because he had it all to himself.</p> + +<p>While he was eating he kept thinking +what a disagreeable fellow Peter Mink +was. No doubt he would have been surprised +had he known that Peter Mink was +thinking the same thing about <i>him</i>, at exactly +the same moment.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">p. 104</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXI" id="XXI"></a>XXI</h2> +<h3>A QUEER WISH</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Fishing</span> was one of Timothy Turtle's +favorite sports. He was a skillful fisherman, +too. And though it only happened +once that he caught more than one fish at +a time, on that occasion he captured seven. +This was the way it happened:</p> + +<p>Johnnie Green had come to Black +Creek to fish for pickerel. And Timothy +Turtle was much annoyed when he found +Johnnie fishing in the pool that he liked +best of all. Timothy thought it was mean +of Johnnie Green to catch <i>his</i> fish, in <i>his</i> +creek.</p> + +<p>And Timothy's beady eyes glared as he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">p. 105</a></span> +watched Johnnie from a safe hiding-place +under the bank.</p> + +<p>He saw that Johnnie Green was a good +fisherman. Before he moved on he caught +three big fish from that pool; and one of +them—the biggest of the three—was the +very fish on which Timothy Turtle had +been expecting to dine that day.</p> + +<p>It was really no wonder that he was annoyed. +And when Johnnie went further +up the creek to try his luck elsewhere +Timothy Turtle slipped into the water +and followed him.</p> + +<p>The more fish he saw Johnnie Green +catch, the angrier Timothy grew. And he +went out of his way to tell a number of his +neighbors what was happening.</p> + +<p>"Something ought to be done about it!" +he complained.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you go down and speak to +Farmer Green?" Peter Mink suggested.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">p. 106</a></span> +Peter liked fish, too. And he had often +said that Johnnie had no right to take food +away from him, when everybody knew +that there was a plenty at the farmhouse.</p> + +<p>Timothy Turtle did not care for Peter's +suggestion.</p> + +<p>"I've no time to waste talking to Farmer +Green," he said. "It seems to me a +letter would be better. Now, if somebody +would write a letter, and get everybody to +sign his name to it, and send it down to +Farmer Green by a messenger, I would do +my share to help. I would tell the messenger +where to leave the letter so that +Farmer Green would be sure to find it." +Timothy then said that he must hurry +back to the creek, for he wanted to see +how many fish Johnnie Green took, so +the number could be mentioned in the letter. +But before he left Timothy told +Peter Mink to go and find somebody to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">p. 107</a></span> +write the letter. "There's old Mr. Crow," +Timothy said. "You might ask him. He +could use one of his quills for a pen, you +know."</p> + +<p>When Timothy Turtle reached the creek +once more he found that while he was +talking to Peter Mink, Johnnie Green +had moved oh again.</p> + +<p>So Timothy started to follow him. But +what should he see, lying on the bank right +before him, but a string of seven pickerel! +Johnnie Green had left them there, while +he went still further up the creek to catch +more.</p> + +<p>Timothy Turtle suddenly changed his +mind about sending a letter to Farmer +Green. He wished that Johnnie would +come there to fish every day.</p> + +<p>"He's a kind boy, after all!" said Timothy +Turtle to himself. "I never dreamed +that he was catching these fish for me. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">p. 108</a></span> +here they are, waiting for me! For Johnnie +must have known that I would find +them."</p> + +<p>Timothy Turtle didn't say anything +more. Of course he was only talking to +himself, anyhow. And he seized the +string of pickerel and waddled into the +bushes, where he ate every one of those +seven fish.</p> + +<p>When Peter Mink met Timothy the +next day he said he had not yet found +anybody who would write the letter to +Farmer Green.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Crow told me that if it was anybody +but you he might be willing to pull +out one of his quills for a pen," Peter +explained. "But he said that he hoped +Johnnie Green would come here every +day to fish, until there are no fish left for +you."</p> + +<p>Timothy Turtle sniffed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">p. 109</a></span></p> + +<p>"You go back," he directed Peter +Mink, "and tell Mr. Crow that <i>I</i> hope +Johnnie Green will come here <i>twice a +day</i> until he has caught every fish in Black +Creek."</p> + +<p>Peter Mink thought that that was a +queer thing for Timothy to wish. Neither +he nor old Mr. Crow could understand it.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">p. 110</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXII" id="XXII"></a>XXII</h2> +<h3>THE UNWELCOME GUEST</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Ferdinand Frog</span> did not like Timothy +Turtle. But he always said he thought +Mr. Turtle could be <i>trusted</i>.</p> + +<p>"You can <i>depend</i> on him," Mr. Frog +often remarked. "Yes, you can depend +on him to grab you if he ever gets a +chance."</p> + +<p>And all the rest of the musical Frog +family agreed with him.</p> + +<p>It is not surprising, therefore, that +they never invited Timothy Turtle to attend +their singing parties in Cedar +Swamp. It made no difference how much +Timothy Turtle hinted. Though he frequently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">p. 111</a></span> +took pains to tell Ferdinand Frog +how fond he was of music, Mr. Frog +never once asked him to come to a concert.</p> + +<p>In private Mr. Frog and his friends +often spoke of Mr. Turtle—and giggled. +And one of the Frog family even made up +a song about Timothy Turtle, which the +whole company loved to chant in Cedar +Swamp, safe—as they thought—from +Timothy's snapping jaws.</p> + +<p>But one fine summer's evening they had +a great surprise. They had scarcely begun +their nightly concert when Timothy +Turtle appeared, out of the water and +crawled upon an old stump, right in their +midst.</p> + +<p>"Good evening!" he cried. "I was just +passing on my way home; and hearing the +singing, I thought I'd stop and enjoy it."</p> + +<p>For a few moments none of the Frog<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">p. 112</a></span> +family said a word. And then Ferdinand +Frog spoke up and asked Mr. Turtle a +question:</p> + +<p>"Have you had your dinner?"</p> + +<p>"No, I haven't," Timothy answered. +"But you needn't trouble yourselves on +my account. Go on with your singing. +And if I feel faint no doubt I can find a +bite to eat hereabouts."</p> + +<p>Now, Mr. Turtle hoped that his speech +would put the singers quite at their ease. +But they looked at one another and rolled +their eyes as if to say, "This Timothy +Turtle is a dangerous person. Look out +for him!"</p> + +<p>At the same time they did not wish to +appear frightened. And Ferdinand +Frog's mother's uncle even made a short +speech, saying that he hoped Mr. Turtle +would enjoy the singing half as much as +everybody else enjoyed his company.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">p. 113</a></span></p> + +<p>He was about to make some further remark. +But no one knew what. For +Timothy Turtle wheeled about to look at +the old gentleman. And the moment +Timothy moved, Ferdinand Frog's mother's +uncle jumped hastily into the water +from the hummock where he had been sitting, +and swam away.</p> + +<p>The rest of the company then sang a +song. And their listener said that he had +never heard anything like it.</p> + +<p>"I wish you'd sing it again," he said, +"with your mouths open and your eyes +shut."</p> + +<p>But the musical Frog family objected +that they were not used to singing in that +fashion.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you keep your own eyes +shut?" Ferdinand Frog asked Mr. Turtle. +"Then you wouldn't know whether +ours were open or closed."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">p. 114</a></span></p> + +<p>"Let us <i>all</i> shut our eyes!" Timothy +Turtle then suggested. And when the +Frog family began another song, a few of +the younger and more foolish singers followed +Mr. Turtle's advice.</p> + +<p>So, too, did Mr. Turtle himself—<i>for a +few moments</i>.</p> + +<p>But he soon opened his eyes slyly. And +he became very angry when he saw that +most of the singers were watching him.</p> + +<p>"You aren't doing as I asked you!" he +shouted.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">p. 115</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXIII" id="XXIII"></a>XXIII</h2> +<h3>A MERRY SONG</h3> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Timothy Turtle</span> made such a noise that +the Frog family had to stop singing.</p> + +<p>"It's not fair!" he cried. "You're +peeping!"</p> + +<p>"Well, so are you!" Ferdinand Frog retorted.</p> + +<p>"I only opened my eyes to make sure +that you were doing as I asked you to," +Mr. Turtle replied with an injured air.</p> + +<p>"And we didn't shut ours, because we +wanted to watch <i>you</i>," said Mr. Frog.</p> + +<p>"Can't you trust me?" Timothy +snapped.</p> + +<p>"Certainly!" Ferdinand Frog replied.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">p. 116</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! We can trust you!" And he +winked at his friends.</p> + +<p>"You don't want to hurt my feelings, +do you?" Timothy Turtle went on.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed!" everybody exclaimed.</p> + +<p>And then Ferdinand Frog told Timothy +that they would sing a special song +in his honor.</p> + +<p>"Fire away!" Timothy ordered them. +And the whole company knew, when he +said that, that if he really cared anything +at all for singing he never would have +spoken of it in that fashion.</p> + +<p>They were just about to begin the song +when Timothy Turtle stopped them.</p> + +<p>"What's this thing called?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"It's known," Ferdinand Frog explained, +"as 'A Merry Song.'"</p> + +<p>And then the whole Frog family began +to bellow their loudest:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">p. 117</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Come let us sing a merry song!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To you it may sound sad.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And if you think it loud and long<br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>We</i> think that it's not bad.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"We'll sing about a grumpy one<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Who snaps and bites all day.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And if you call that "having fun"<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We make reply, "Go 'way!"<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He has a glittering, wicked eye<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And also cruel jaws.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And if you ask the reason why,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We'll answer you, <i>"Because!"</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He'll stretch his neck and grab you quick—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Don't let him come too near!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And if you poke him with a stick<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He'll seize that too—oh, dear! +</span><p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">p. 118</a></span></p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Now, we'll admit he swims quite well<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And that he's slow ashore.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Don't ask us if he wears a shell<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Until we tell you more.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Don't ask us if he's fond of fish<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nor seek to learn his age.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And kindly don't express a wish<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To see him in a rage!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Don't ask us if his claws are strong<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And if he has a tail.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It might be short and blunt, or long<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And pointed like a nail.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">We do not want to cause you pain.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We would not give offense—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But, sir, you'll not come here again<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If you have any sense.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>After the last echo of the song had lost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">p. 119</a></span> +itself in the depths of Cedar Swamp, the +singers all turned, smiling, to their +listener.</p> + +<p>But his face wore no smile. On the contrary, +Timothy Turtle frowned darkly.</p> + +<p>"You can't fool me!" he cried. "You +don't like me! You don't want me here!"</p> + +<p>Ferdinand Frog swallowed a few times.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, "of course my manners +are so elegant that I simply <i>couldn't</i> +dispute one of my elders. And anyhow, +Mr. Turtle, you'd find that our singing +sounded twice as well if you were half a +mile away."</p> + +<p>"It certainly couldn't sound any worse +than it does here," Timothy Turtle declared—a +remark which made the Frog +family grin broadly.</p> + +<p>He said no more, but slipped into the +water and struck out towards home.</p> + +<p>There was a lively scattering of those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">p. 120</a></span> +who found themselves in Timothy Turtle's +path. And for a time it looked as if +the singing party had broken up in disorder.</p> + +<p>But after a while everybody came back +again—that is, everybody but Timothy +Turtle. He hurried away and spent most +of the whole night buried in the mud at +the bottom of Black Creek. For even until +daybreak that merry song came floating +now and then across Pleasant Valley.</p> + +<p>And Timothy Turtle did not like it. He +thought it not only loud and long, but most +unpleasant as well.</p> + +<p class="center"><br /><br /><br /><br />THE END</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2>Little Jack Rabbit Books</h2> +<p class="center"> +(Trademark Registered)<br /> +By DAVID CORY<br /> +Author of "Little Journeys to Happyland"</p> + +<p class="center"><b>Colored Wrappers With Text Illustrations.</b></p> + +<p class="noindent">A new and unique series about the furred and feathered +little people of the wood and meadow.</p> + +<p class="noindent">Children will eagerly follow the doings of little Jack +Rabbit, and the clever way in which he escapes from his +three enemies, Danny Fox, Mr. Wicked Wolf and +Hungry Hawk will delight the youngsters.</p> + +<p class="noindent">LITTLE JACK RABBIT'S ADVENTURES<br /> + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND DANNY FOX<br /> + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE SQUIRREL BROTHERS<br /> + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND CHIPPY CHIPMUNK<br /> + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE BIG BROWN BEAR<br /> + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND UNCLE JOHN HARE<br /> + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND PROFESSOR CROW<br /> + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND OLD MAN WEASEL<br /> + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND MR. WICKED WOLF<br /> + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND HUNGRY HAWK<br /> + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE POLICEMAN DOG<br /> + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND MISS MOUSIE<br /> + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND UNCLE LUCKY<br /> + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE YELLOW DOG TRAMP</p> + +<p class="center">GROSSET & DUNLAP, <i>Publishers</i>, NEW YORK</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2>LITTLE JOURNEYS TO HAPPYLAND</h2> + +<p class="center">By DAVID CORY</p> + +<p class="center"><b>Profusely Illustrated. Individual Colored Wrappers.</b></p> + +<p class="center">Printed in large type—easy to read. +<br />For children from 6 to 8 years.</p> + +<p class="noindent">A new series of exciting adventures by the author +of the LITTLE JACK RABBIT books. This +series is unique in that it deals with unusual and exciting +adventures on land and sea and in the air.</p> + +<p class="noindent">THE CRUISE OF THE NOAH'S ARK</p> + +<p class="noindent">This is a good rainy day story. On just such a day Mr. Noah +invites Marjorie to go for a trip in Noah's Ark. She gets aboard +just in time and away it floats out into the big wide world.</p> + +<p class="noindent">THE MAGIC SOAP BUBBLE</p> + +<p class="noindent">The king of the gnomes has a magic pipe with which he +blows a wonderful bubble and taking Ed. with him they both +have a delightful time in Gnomeland.</p> + +<p class="noindent">THE ICEBERG EXPRESS</p> + +<p class="noindent">The Mermaid's magic comb changes little Mary Louise into +a mermaid. The Polar Bear Porter on the Iceberg Express +invites her to take a trip with him and away they go.</p> + +<p class="noindent">THE WIND WAGON</p> + +<p class="noindent">Little Hero stepped aboard the Wind Wagon and started on a +journey to many wonderful places and had a delightful time.</p> + +<p class="noindent">THE MAGIC UMBRELLA</p> + +<p class="noindent">A little old man gave Jimmy the Magic Umbrella which took +him to Happyland, where he had many adventures.</p> + +<p class="center">GROSSET & DUNLAP, <span class="smcap">Publishers</span>, NEW YORK</p> + +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Tale of Timothy Turtle, by Arthur Scott Bailey + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF TIMOTHY TURTLE *** + +***** This file should be named 20716-h.htm or 20716-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/7/1/20716/ + +Produced by Joe Longo and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/20716-h/images/illus-004.jpg b/20716-h/images/illus-004.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..25e8458 --- /dev/null +++ b/20716-h/images/illus-004.jpg diff --git a/20716-h/images/illus-027.jpg b/20716-h/images/illus-027.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..53b190b --- /dev/null +++ b/20716-h/images/illus-027.jpg diff --git a/20716-h/images/illus-061.jpg b/20716-h/images/illus-061.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c5be7e1 --- /dev/null +++ b/20716-h/images/illus-061.jpg diff --git a/20716-h/images/illus-095.jpg b/20716-h/images/illus-095.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4b285ca --- /dev/null +++ b/20716-h/images/illus-095.jpg diff --git a/20716-page-images.zip b/20716-page-images.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3d45d88 --- /dev/null +++ b/20716-page-images.zip diff --git a/20716.txt b/20716.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4221d51 --- /dev/null +++ b/20716.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2622 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Tale of Timothy Turtle, by Arthur Scott Bailey + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Tale of Timothy Turtle + +Author: Arthur Scott Bailey + +Illustrator: Harry L. Smith + +Release Date: May 5, 2007 [EBook #20716] +[This file was first posted on March 1, 2007] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF TIMOTHY TURTLE *** + + + + +Produced by Joe Longo and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + THE TALE OF + TIMOTHY TURTLE + + + + _SLEEPY-TIME TALES_ + (Trademark Registered) + + BY + ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY + + AUTHOR OF + _TUCK-ME-IN TALES_ + (Trademark Registered) + + THE TALE OF CUFFY BEAR + THE TALE OF FRISKY SQUIRREL + THE TALE OF TOMMY FOX + THE TALE OF FATTY COON + THE TALE OF BILLY WOODCHUCK + THE TALE OF JIMMY RABBIT + THE TALE OF PETER MINK + THE TALE OF SANDY CHIPMUNK + THE TALE OF BROWNIE BEAVER + THE TALE OF PADDY MUSKRAT + THE TALE OF FERDINAND FROG + THE TALE OF DICKIE DEER MOUSE + THE TALE OF TIMOTHY TURTLE + THE TALE OF MAJOR MONKEY + THE TALE OF BENNY BADGER + +[Illustration: Timothy was going through the queerest motions.] + + _SLEEPY-TIME TALES_ + (Trademark Registered) + + THE TALE OF + TIMOTHY + TURTLE + + BY + ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY + Author of + "_TUCK-ME-IN TALES_" + (Trademark Registered) + + ILLUSTRATED BY + HARRY L. SMITH + + + NEW YORK + GROSSET & DUNLAP + PUBLISHERS + + Made in the United States of America + + COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY + GROSSET & DUNLAP + + CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER + + I A FAMOUS BITER + II AN OLD-TIMER + III TIMOTHY'S GRUDGE + IV A TIGHT SQUEEZE + V MR. TURTLE'S MISTAKE + VI MR. CROW'S KIND OFFER + VII LEARNING TO FLY + VIII TURNING TURTLE + IX A PLEASURE TRIP + X A WARNING + XI ON THE BEAVER DAM + XII KIND TIMOTHY TURTLE + XIII THE PLOT + XIV CAUGHT! + XV THE REDSKINS' WAY + XVI JOHNNIE GREEN'S INITIALS + XVII TIMOTHY NEEDS HELP +XVIII PETER MINK'S PLAN + XIX CAREFUL MR. FROG + XX THE ALMANAC + XXI A QUEER WISH + XXII THE UNWELCOME GUEST +XXIII A MERRY SONG + + + Illustrations + +Timothy was going through the queerest motions. + Frontispiece + +"Let Me In!" said Timothy to Mr. Frog. + +Timothy began to climb the steep bluff. + +"Let me go!" Fatty Coon shrieked. + + + + +THE TALE OF TIMOTHY TURTLE + +I + +A FAMOUS BITER + + +That black rascal, Mr. Crow, was not the oldest dweller in Pleasant +Valley. There was another elderly gentleman who had spent more +summers--and a great many more winters--under the shadow of Blue +Mountain than he. + +All the wild folk knew this person by the name of Timothy Turtle. And if +they didn't see him so often as Mr. Crow it was because he spent much of +his time on the muddy bottom of Black Creek. Besides, he never flapped +his way through the air to Farmer Green's cornfield, in plain sight of +everyone who happened to look up at the sky. + +On the contrary, Mr. Timothy Turtle seldom wandered far from the banks +of the creek--for the best of reasons. He was anything but a fast +walker. In fact, one might say that he waddled, or even crawled, rather +than walked. But in the water he was quite a different creature. By +means of his webbed feet he could swim as easily as Mr. Crow could fly. +And he could stay at the bottom of Black Creek a surprisingly long time +before he came up for a breath of air. Indeed, Mr. Crow sometimes +remarked that _he_ would be just as well pleased if Timothy Turtle +buried himself in the mud beneath the water _and never_ came up again! + +Such a speech was enough to show that Mr. Crow was not fond of Timothy +Turtle. Perhaps Mr. Crow disliked to have a neighbor who was older than +he. But Mr. Crow himself always laughed at such a suggestion. + +"The trouble is----" he would say--"the trouble is, Timothy Turtle is +_too grumpy_. Now, _I'm_ old. But I claim that that's no reason why I +shouldn't be pleasant." And then he would laugh--somewhat harshly--just +to show that he knew how. + +There was a good deal of truth in what Mr. Crow said. Timothy Turtle was +grumpy. But it was not old age that made him so. He had been like that +all his life. There never was a time when he Wasn't snappish, when he +wouldn't rather bite a body than not. + +And that was the reason why he had not more friends. To be sure, many +people knew him. But usually they took good care not to get too near +him. + +For Timothy Turtle had a most unpleasant way of shooting out his long +neck from under his shell and seizing a person in his powerful jaws. In +spite of his great age he was quick as a flash. And one had to step +lively to escape him. + +If Timothy had bitten you just for an instant, and then stopped, this +trick of his wouldn't have been so disagreeable. But he was not content +with a mere nip. When he had hold of you he never wanted to let you go. +And it was no joke getting away, once you found yourself caught by him. + +As for Timothy Turtle, he never could understand why his neighbors +objected to this little trick of his. He always said that it was more +fun than almost anything else he could think of. And it is true that he +never seemed so happy as he did when he had caught some careless person +and was biting him without mercy. + +"Anybody that wants to may bite _me,"_ Timothy used to declare. But +perhaps he never stopped to think that one might almost as well bite a +rock as his hard shell. And anybody might better chew a piece of leather +than try to take a mouthful out of his legs, or his neck, or his head. + +So no one paid any heed to Timothy Turtle's kind offer. Even Peter Mink, +who was himself overfond of biting people, wisely let Mr. Turtle alone. + +There is no doubt that it was the safer way. + + + + +II + +AN OLD-TIMER + + +It was pleasant for Timothy Turtle that he lived in Black Creek, for he +was very fond of fishing. If he had happened to make his home among the +rocks on the top of Blue Mountain he would have had to travel a long way +to find even a trout stream. But in Black Creek there were fish right in +his dooryard, one may say. + +It was lucky for him, too, that he liked fish to eat. And whenever he +wanted a change of food the creek was a good place in which to find a +frog, or perhaps a foolish duckling who had not learned to be careful. + +It was no wonder that all the mother birds in the neighborhood used to +warn their children to beware of Timothy Turtle. Did not Long Bill Wren, +who lived among the reeds on the bank of Black Creek, have a narrow +escape when he was only a few weeks old? + +He had just learned to fly. And although his mother had told him not to +leave the bank, he disobeyed her. When she was not watching him he +sailed over the water for the first time in his life and alighted on a +flat object on top of a rock. + +Bill supposed it was a stone that he was sitting on. And he felt so +proud of what he had done that he cried, "Look! Oh, look!" + +His poor mother was dreadfully frightened when she saw him. + +"Come back!" she shrieked. "You're in great danger!" + +So Bill flew back to the bank as fast as he could go. + +"What have I told you about Timothy Turtle?" his mother asked him +sharply. + +"You've said to keep away from him, or he might eat me," young Bill +faltered. + +"Exactly!" his mother cried. "And the moment I glance away, here you go +and sit right on his back! It's a wonder you're alive." + +Her son hung his head. And never again did he pick out a perch until he +was sure it wasn't old Mr. Turtle. + +When he was older, and had children of his own, Long Bill often remarked +that it was too bad Mr. Turtle didn't live in some other place. "He +makes my wife so nervous!" he used to exclaim. "With a new brood of at +least a half-dozen youngsters to take care of every summer one has to +watch sharp for Mr. Turtle whenever the children play near the water." +And Long Bill always took pains to tell his children of his own +adventure with Timothy Turtle and warn them not to make such a mistake. + +"Luckily I sat exactly in the center of Mr. Turtle's shell, so he +couldn't reach me," Long Bill was explaining to his family one day. "But +if I had happened to perch on his head I certainly wouldn't be here +now." + +"Oh, Mr. Turtle is too slow to catch me," one of the youngsters boasted. +"I saw him on the bank to-day; and he only _crawled_." + +"Ah! You don't know him," Long Bill Wren replied. "When he wants to, he +can stand up on his hind legs as quick as a wink. And he can dart his +head out just like a snake." + +"Ugh!" Long Bill's small son shivered as he spoke. "I wish Mr. Turtle +would go away from our creek." + +"_He_ thinks it's _his_ creek," Long Bill Wren observed. "He has lived +in it years and years and years. We'll have to get on with him as best +we can, for there's no doubt that Timothy Turtle is here to stay." + + + + +III + +TIMOTHY'S GRUDGE + + +Sometimes Fatty Coon liked a taste of fresh fish, just by way of a +change from Farmer Green's corn, and blackberries, wild grapes, +bugs--and all the other dainties on which he dined. + +So it happened that one day he visited Black Creek, where he crouched +near the water with the hope that some silly fish would swim within +reach of his sharp claws. + +For a long time he waited patiently. And at last, to his great joy, a +young pickerel nosed his way through the shallow water in front of him. + +The newcomer was hunting flies. And he did not notice the eager +fisherman. + +Fatty Coon waited until just the right moment. And then one of his paws +darted suddenly into the water. + +But instead of Fatty Coon catching the pickerel, someone else caught +Fatty Coon. + +His captor was no less a person than Timothy Turtle himself, who had +been buried all this time in the mud almost under Fatty Coon's nose. +That is, his body was buried. His head and neck he had left free, so +that he might strike at a fish when one came his way. But he had seen +something else that took his fancy. When Fatty's paw scooped into the +water Timothy Turtle just _had_ to grab it. + +"Let me go!" Fatty Coon shrieked, for Mr. Turtle's cruel jaws hurt him +terribly. + +"Why, this is fun!" Timothy Turtle muttered thickly, as he took a firmer +hold on Fatty's paw. "Besides, I've been wanting to talk with you for a +long time." + +"Then you'd better let me go," Fatty groaned, "because you can't talk +well with your mouth full." + +"I can say all I need to," Timothy Turtle grunted. "And I know that if I +dropped your paw you'd run off." + +"Hurry, then!" Fatty Coon begged him piteously. "Hurry and tell me what +you have to say. And please talk fast!" + +Timothy Turtle almost smiled. + +"Am I hurting you?" he inquired. + +"Yes, you are!" cried Fatty Coon. + +"Good!" Mr. Turtle snorted. "I meant to, because I've a grudge against +you." + +Fatty Coon couldn't think what he meant. + +"I've never done a thing to you," he declared. + +"Perhaps not!" Timothy Turtle admitted. + +"But you stole Mrs. Turtle's eggs--twenty-seven of them--and you can't +deny it." + +Now, it was true--what Timothy Turtle said. Hidden among the reeds one +day, Fatty Coon had watched Mrs. Turtle bury her eggs in the sand, to +hatch. And when she had gone he had crept out from his hiding-place, dug +up her precious, round, white treasures, and eaten them, every one. + +Well, Fatty Coon dropped his head in front of Mr. Turtle. He was +somewhat ashamed, and frightened, too. And he did not like to look into +Timothy Turtle's blinking eyes. "How did you know?" he asked Mr. Turtle. + +"Mrs. Turtle told me," said Timothy, shifting his hold slightly, for a +better one. + +"How did the old lady know who took her eggs?" Fatty persisted. + +"Mr. Crow saw everything that happened--and don't you call my wife an +old lady!" Timothy Turtle spluttered. + +"Very well! She's a _young_ one, of course," Fatty said hastily. "But I +don't know how I've harmed you." + +"You don't, eh?" Timothy Turtle snarled. "Then I'll explain. I meant to +have those eggs myself, young man!" + + + + +IV + +A TIGHT SQUEEZE + + +Timothy Turtle's remark was most surprising. It almost took Fatty Coon's +breath away. And for a moment or two he even forgot the pain in his paw. + +"Do you mean to say," he asked, "that you like turtles' eggs!" + +"Do I?" said Timothy. "There's no better treat, in my opinion, than a +tender young egg, especially if it's well mixed with sand. And, of +course, twenty-seven of them are twenty-seven times as good." + +"I'm sorry----" Fatty told him--"I'm sorry that I ever touched the +old--I mean the _young_--lady's eggs. And now that you've almost bitten +my paw in two, please--good Mr. Turtle--let me go!" + +But good Mr. Turtle had no notion of freeing his prisoner. + +"Not yet!" he snapped. "I'm going to bite you twenty-seven times as +long, and twenty-seven times as hard--if I can." + +"But it was only a mistake!" Fatty Coon moaned. "I never knew you wanted +those eggs yourself." + +"Take care----" said Timothy Turtle sternly--"take care that you never +make such a mistake again." + +"Don't do that!" Fatty Coon suddenly cried. + +"Don't do _what_?" was Mr. Turtle's testy reply. + +"Don't pull on my leg!" Fatty Coon pleaded. "You'll have me in the water +in another moment, and I'll get wet, and my mother won't like it a +bit." + +But Timothy Turtle paid no heed to Fatty Coon's objections. + +"Certainly I'll pull you into the creek," he declared. "I'm going to +take you out where the water's deep, and drag you down, down, down to +the very bottom. We'll have lots of fun burying ourselves in the mud. +And I venture to say that you'll like it so well down there that you'll +never want to come up again." + +If Fatty Coon was frightened before, now he was terrified almost out of +his wits. And he began to claw frantically at Timothy Turtle's head. + +Luckily he had three free paws. And of these he made good use. In the +shallows near the bank he struggled with all his might and main. And +soon the water was churned into a muddy pool. + +[Illustration: "Let Me In!" said Timothy to Mr. Frog.] + +Fatty never knew exactly how he succeeded in breaking loose from Mr. +Turtle. Anyhow, he found himself free at last; and he lost no time in +scrambling up the bank to safety. + +Afterward Timothy Turtle always complained that Fatty Coon didn't "fight +fair." + +"He gouges," Timothy would explain. "He'd just as soon stick one of his +claws into your eye as not. And I claim that's something no real +gentleman will do." + +Now, Fatty did not leave Black Creek at once, after his adventure with +Timothy Turtle. He paused for a time, to squat on the bank and nurse his +injured paw. + +While he lingered there he happened to glance up. And whom should he +see, sitting motionless in a tree near-by, but that old rascal, Mr. +Crow! + +"Oh! Naughty, naughty!" Mr. Crow cawed in a mocking voice. "You've been +fighting." + +"It's all your fault," Fatty growled. "If you'd minded your own affairs +Timothy Turtle would never have known anything about those eggs." + +"Bless your heart!" old Mr. Crow cried. "Timothy Turtle would have +seized you just the same, if you'd never touched his wife's eggs. You +don't know him as well as I do." + +"Perhaps not!" Fatty Coon replied. "And what's more, I don't want to. I +never want to see Timothy Turtle again." + +Old Mr. Crow laughed merrily at that speech. But Fatty Coon only turned +his back on him. + +_He_ was in no mood for laughter. + + + + +V + +MR. TURTLE'S MISTAKE + + +Mr. Crow was in no hurry to leave Black Creek. And after Fatty Coon had +limped away the old gentleman still sat in the tree which hung over the +water. He hoped that Timothy Turtle would crawl out upon the bank and +growl about Fatty. + +The old black rascal was not disappointed. Fatty Coon had not been gone +long when Timothy Turtle dragged himself out of the creek and stretched +himself upon the sand in the warm sunshine. + +"How's your eye?" Mr. Crow asked him hoarsely. + +"It's feeling better; but it's a wonder that I can see with it at all," +Timothy Turtle grumbled. "If I ever get hold of that fat young fellow +again I'll pull him under the water before he knows what's happened to +him. He doesn't fight _fair_." + +Old Mr. Crow chuckled. + +"You'll never have another chance to show him the right way," he +remarked. "He won't come near this creek, or my name's not--ahem--Mr. +Crow." + +"What's your first name?" Timothy Turtle inquired, as he stared +unpleasantly at the speaker. + +"Never mind!" said the other. "Mr. Crow will do, if you want to attract +my attention." + +Timothy Turtle frowned. + +"I don't want to," he retorted. "The fact is, I'd rather be alone. I +don't care to have strangers peeping down at me when I'm enjoying a +sun-bath." + +"But I like to look at you," old Mr. Crow assured him solemnly. "You +make me think of somebody I've known for a good many years." + +"Ah! An old friend!" Timothy exclaimed. + +"Well--not a _friend_, exactly," Mr. Crow explained. "He lives in the +South, where I spend the winters. You look like him, in many ways." + +"And his name?" Timothy Turtle said. + +"Mr. Alligator!" + +Timothy Turtle grunted. + +"Humph!" he said. "I've never heard of him." + +"That's not strange," old Mr. Crow told him. "He stays all the time in +the South and you stay all the time in the North. You couldn't very well +meet, you see." + +"Your tail is a good deal like his," Mr. Crow continued. "And when you +walk you have a trick of raising yourself sometimes on your hind legs, +with your head and tail stretched out--a trick that reminds me of him." + +For once Timothy seemed pleased. + +"Anything else?" he demanded, with something that was almost like a +smile. Unfortunately, he had passed so many years with a constant frown +on his face that smiling actually hurt him. + +"Why, yes! There is something else," old Mr. Crow went on. "You and he +have the same way of _snapping_ at things." + +There was no doubt, now, that Timothy Turtle was gratified. + +"He must be a fine bird--this Mr. Alligator!" he exclaimed. + +Old Mr. Crow spluttered. And he had to hang on tight to save himself +from tumbling off his perch. + +A bird! Timothy Turtle thought that Mr. Alligator was a bird! + +The mistake was so amusing that Mr. Crow wanted to laugh. But he knew +that would never do--if he wanted any more fun with Timothy Turtle. + +So he pretended to cough. And he wrapped his muffler more snugly about +his neck, remarking that there was a cold wind that day, even though the +sun _was_ warm. + + + + +VI + +MR. CROW'S KIND OFFER + + +"I suppose----" Timothy Turtle said to his young friend, old Mr. +Crow--"I suppose Mr. Alligator is a fine flier." + +"He's a very powerful fellow," old Mr. Crow replied with a sly smile. + +"Did you ever try to follow him?" Timothy wanted to know. + +Mr. Crow shook his head. + +"No!" he answered. "I shouldn't want to do that, because one never could +tell when he might take a notion to jump into the water." + +"Oh! Then he can swim, can he?" + +"Certainly!" Mr. Crow assured him. + +"Then that's another way in which he's like me!" Timothy Turtle cried. +"And if I could only fly, I'd be still more like him." + +"Why don't you learn?" Mr. Crow suggested wickedly. + +"I'm too old," Timothy sighed. + +"Not at all!" Mr. Crow hastened to assure him. "One can never be too old +to _try_ a thing." + +But Timothy Turtle replied that even if he was young enough to attempt +such a feat as flying, he hadn't the least idea of the way to go about +it. + +Old Mr. Crow was most helpful. + +"I'll tell you what you ought to do," he advised. "You swim down the +creek as far as the big bluff. And it will be a simple matter for you to +climb up to the top of the bluff and jump off the rock that hangs high +up over the water." + +Timothy Turtle looked far from happy at that suggestion. + +"I shouldn't care to do that," he said. + +"Why not?" Mr. Crow asked him. "You know there's only one way of flying, +and that's through the air." + +"I might fall," Timothy objected. + +"What if you did?" said Mr. Crow glibly. "You'd only fall into the +water. And everybody agrees that you're a fine swimmer.... You aren't +afraid of getting your feet wet, are you?" And he laughed loudly at his +own joke. + +For some reason Timothy lost his temper. Perhaps he thought Mr. Crow was +disrespectful to his elders. + +"Look here, young man!" he snapped, glaring angrily at old Mr. Crow. "If +you're laughing at me, I'll invite you to drop down here and stand on +the end of my nose." + +Old Mr. Crow grew sober at once. The mere thought of perching himself in +so dangerous a place was enough to put a quick end to his noisy +_haw-haws_. + +"My dear sir!" he cried. "I wouldn't _dream_ of standing on the nose of +a fine old gentleman like you. No indeedy! My manners are too good for +that." + +Timothy Turtle said bluntly that he had always been told that Mr. Crow +was the rudest person in all Pleasant Valley--unless it was Mr. Crow's +boisterous cousin, Jasper Jay. + +When he heard that, Mr. Crow pretended to wipe a tear away from each of +his eyes. + +"I've always been misunderstood," he declared mournfully. "I'm really a +kind-hearted soul. And just to prove to you that I want to be helpful, +I'll meet you at the bluff any time you say, and tell you exactly what +to do if you want to learn to fly." + +Timothy Turtle seemed to think that the chance was too good a one to +lose. + +"I accept your offer," he shouted. "And I'll start downstream this very +moment." + + + + +VII + +LEARNING TO FLY + + +Timothy Turtle reached the overhanging bluff in a surprisingly short +time. But it must be remembered that he did not walk there on land, but +swam down Black Creek with the current. When he crawled out upon the +bank he was glad to see that old Mr. Crow was waiting for him, on a pine +stump that stood near the water. + +He failed utterly to notice that Mr. Crow was not alone. Hidden in all +sorts of places were as many as a dozen of Mr. Crow's friends. For the +old gentleman had invited his cousin, Jasper Jay, to come to the bluff +"to enjoy the fun," as he expressed it. + +"But don't let Timothy Turtle see you!" Mr. Crow had warned Jasper. "At +least, don't let him know you're there until after he has jumped off the +big rock." + +Jasper Jay had given his solemn promise. + +"And don't let him hear you, either," Mr. Crow had said. And Jasper had +agreed to that, too, although he said that it might be a hard thing to +do. + +Well, Timothy Turtle crawled out upon the bank and took a long look at +the high bluff above him, from which the great rock hung over the water +of the creek. + +"I believe----" he said to old Mr. Crow--"I believe I'd better wait till +to-morrow before I try to fly. I've just had a long swim, you know. And +I want to feel fresh when I take my first lesson." + +"Nonsense!" Mr. Crow exclaimed. "Everything's all ready. You're not too +tired, are you, to climb to the top of the bluff?" + +"No," Timothy Turtle admitted. + +"Then you've no reason for waiting," Mr. Crow assured him. "Coming down +will be much easier than going up." + +"I dare say that's true," Timothy remarked. "But I don't quite like to +think about this business of flying." + +"Then you certainly ought not to wait any longer," Mr. Crow urged him. +"For the longer you wait the more time you'll have to think." + +That appeared to Timothy Turtle to be a good bit of advice. And yet he +still seemed uneasy. + +"There's just one thing that troubles me," he confessed. "After I've +jumped from the rock I might find that I couldn't fly. And I'd get a +bad fall." + +"But you'd land in the water," Mr. Crow reminded him. "And that would be +much better than falling on the land.... I don't need to tell you," he +added, "that water is soft. And you're a fine swimmer." + +So Timothy Turtle yielded. And thereupon he began to drag himself up the +steep bluff. + +It seemed to Mr. Crow that he had never known anybody to walk so slowly. +But then, of course, he was in a hurry to see the fun. And it couldn't +really begin until Mr. Turtle should reach the big rock and take the +leap that Mr. Crow had suggested to him. + +Jasper Jay and the rowdies he had brought with him stirred impatiently. +And Jasper said aloud to one of them: + +"What an old slow-poke he is!" + +"What's that!" Timothy Turtle inquired, as he stopped and looked around +at Mr. Crow. + +"I didn't speak," Mr. Crow told him. + +Timothy glared at his teacher for a few moments. And Mr. Crow began to +think that Jasper Jay had spoiled the fun. But at last Timothy Turtle +plodded on. And when his back was turned old Mr. Crow flew over to the +place where Jasper Jay was hidden and whispered to him that he had +better keep still or there would be trouble for him. + + + + +VIII + +TURNING TURTLE + + +So Timothy Turtle struggled up the steep face of the bluff. And as he +neared the top Mr. Crow began to hop up and down upon the old pine +stump. He was almost bursting with silent laughter. But he succeeded in +keeping quiet. And now and then he made threatening motions toward +Jasper Jay and his friends, who stuck their heads from behind limbs of +trees and hummocks and bushes, lest they miss any of the fun. + +Once on top of the great rock that capped the bluff and hung out over +the creek, Timothy Turtle clung there and peered down at the gently +flowing water below. + +"What a long way it is down there!" he called to Mr. Crow. + +"Don't think about that!" Mr. Crow cautioned him. + +"Is this the way Mr. Alligator learned to fly?" Timothy Turtle demanded. + +"Don't think about him!" Mr. Crow shouted. "Just jump out as far as you +can!" + +"I believe I don't care to fly to-day," Timothy Turtle faltered, drawing +back from the edge of the rock. "I----I'll wait till some other time. +You know, I'm older than you are." + +"Tut, tut!" said Mr. Crow. "When I'm your age I shall still be flying as +well as I do now. It's nothing, when you know how. Nothing at all!" + +Urged by Mr. Crow, Timothy Turtle once more crept to the very edge of +the cliff and stretched his neck out as far as he could, to gaze down at +the black water. And at last, after making several false starts and +drawing back to a place of safety, he stood up on his hind legs, shut +his eyes, and hopped off into space. + +Now, the moment Timothy Turtle leaped from the top of the bluff a +deafening squawk broke the silence. Old Mr. Crow _cawed_ as loud as he +knew how. But the racket he made was as nothing compared with the uproar +of Jasper Jay and the noisy crew he had brought with him. They squalled +with delight as Timothy Turtle plunged through the air like a stone. And +when he landed upside down in the creek, striking the water with a great +splash, the whole company shrieked louder than ever. + +"_Ha! ha! ha_!" Mr. Crow cried, holding his sides and rocking backwards +and forwards upon the old stump. + +"_Jay_! _jay_! _jay_!" Jasper and his friends bawled, hopping up and +down and cutting capers in the air. + +As for Timothy Turtle, he made no sound at all. And neither did he make +the slightest motion. The current of Black Creek caught him and bore him +away down the stream. But at last he managed to paddle ashore. And he +pulled himself slowly out of the water, and lay upon the sand and +groaned. + +Mr. Crow and his cronies gathered quickly about him. + +"What's the matter?" Mr. Crow inquired. "Don't you like flying?" + +It was some time before Timothy could answer. + +"I've had an awful fall," he moaned finally. + +"Where are you hurt?" Mr. Crow asked him. + +"Everywhere!" Timothy Turtle told him. "I thought you said that water +was soft to fall into." + +"Well, isn't it?" + +"It certainly is _not,_" Timothy Turtle declared. "I believe there's +nothing harder in the whole world.... I've heard, sir, that you are very +wise. But for once, anyhow, you've made a great mistake." + +Old Mr. Crow coughed--and winked at his friends. "The trouble was"--he +explained--"the trouble was, you lost your balance and landed in the +creek upside down. And of course you couldn't fly in that position. It's +what's called 'turning turtle,'" he added, "and I might have known--if I +had stopped to think--that you'd be sure to do it." + +"Well," said Timothy Turtle, drawing a long breath, "I'll tell you right +now that I'll never, _never_, turn turtle again." + + + + +IX + +A PLEASURE TRIP + + +Almost always the wild folk in Pleasant Valley knew that if they wanted +to see Timothy Turtle they could find him somewhere in Black Creek. But +once in a great while he liked to go on what he called "an excursion." +By that he meant a pleasure trip to some spot not too far away--never +outside of Pleasant Valley. + +Nobody meeting Timothy Turtle on one of those journeys would have +suspected that he was bent on pleasure. Or at least, nobody would have +supposed that Mr. Turtle had found what he was looking for. Certainly if +he was hunting for fun, he never looked as if he had discovered any. +For no smile showed itself upon his face. Instead, he met every one with +a frown. And if a body gave him a cheery "Good morning," just as likely +as not Timothy would answer with a grunt, and pass on. + +Naturally, when Timothy Turtle arrived anywhere and told people that he +expected to spend a few days among them they did not feel any great joy +at the news. On the contrary, they were quite likely to say to one +another, "I hope he won't stop long," or "He looks more grumpy than +ever." And some would even remark that they wished Timothy Turtle would +go home and stay there. + +So no one of the Beaver colony was glad when Timothy appeared in their +pond one day and explained that he intended to be in the neighborhood at +least a week. In the first place, the Beavers, as a whole, were a busy, +cheerful family, who did not like disagreeable folk for company. And in +the second place, they were spry workers; and they had little use for +anybody as slow as Timothy Turtle, who never did any work at all. + +It is no wonder, then, that as soon as the news of Timothy's coming +spread up and down and across the pond, the busy Beavers stopped their +work and said things about the crusty outsider who had forced himself +upon them. And almost everybody went to call upon Grandaddy Beaver and +asked him what he thought ought to be done. + +Now, Grandaddy was a good old soul. And he told the hot-headed younger +members of the colony to keep cool, which seems a simple thing for them +to have done, swimming about as they were in the icy water, which +flowed down from springs on the side of Blue Mountain. + +"Timothy Turtle has been here before," Grandaddy Beaver announced. "I +can remember my great-grandfather's telling me about his passing two +whole weeks in our pond. And though everybody wished he would leave, he +never harmed anybody, because people kept out of his way." + +"Well, he ought to work while he's here," said a brisk gentleman, +tugging at his moustache. + +"Timothy Turtle will never lift his hand to do a single stroke of work," +said old Grandaddy Beaver. "He has already spent a long life without +working. And he'll be lazy if he lives to be a hundred years old--or +even a hundred and fifty." + +Now, a young chap called Brownie Beaver heard all this, as he stood in +Grandaddy's doorway and peeped inside the house. And he thought it was +a shame that _somebody_ couldn't make Timothy Turtle mend his ways. To +Brownie Bearer it seemed that Timothy Turtle was old enough to behave +himself. + + + + +X + +A WARNING + + +Timothy Turtle's visit at the beaver pond was just like all of his +outings. Wherever he went he was so disagreeable and snappish that there +wasn't a single person in the whole village that didn't wish Timothy had +stayed away from that place. + +He was forever grumbling, complaining that the fishing was poor in the +pond. And as for frogs, he declared that he hadn't seen even one. + +"Why anybody wants to live here is more than I can understand." That was +what Timothy Turtle told everyone he met. And of course it was a poor +way of making himself welcome. + +"Why do you come here, if you don't like our pond?" people asked him. + +"It's a change for me," was Timothy's reply. "After I've spent a week +with you I'll be pretty glad to get back home again. And I won't want to +go on another excursion for a whole year--or maybe two. + +"It's twenty years since I was here before. And I sha'n't care to come +again for forty, at least." + +Now, such dreadfully rude remarks hurt the Beaver family's feelings. And +when Timothy Turtle seized a fat lady by the tail one day and wouldn't +let her go until sunset, her feelings were hurt most of all. She cried +that she had never been so insulted in all her life. + +Timothy Turtle merely said that she ought not to object. He explained +that he had been _giving her a rest_--for of course she couldn't cut +down a tree, nor work upon the dam that held the water in the pond, +while he clung fast to her tail. + +Well, this fat lady happened to be Brownie Beaver's mother. And after +her disagreeable experience with the stranger, Brownie made up his mind +that he _would make Timothy Turtle work_. That was the worst punishment +he could think of. + +Whenever the members of the Beaver family were not sleeping, or eating, +either they were gathering food by cutting down trees, or they were +mending their dam. + +The dam always had leaks here and there. And sooner or later every one +of them had to be stopped, before it grew so big that the water would +rush through it and tear a hole so great that the pond would be drained +dry. + +During his stay among the Beavers Timothy Turtle often crawled on top +of the dam and stretched himself out and watched the Beavers at their +task. He said that if there was one thing that he liked to see more than +another it was "a gang of men working." But he complained that they +ought to work in the daytime, when the sun was shining, because then it +would have been "much pleasanter for him." + +"Don't you want to help us?" asked the brisk fellow who had told +Grandaddy Beaver that he thought Timothy Turtle ought to go to work. + +That question actually made Timothy snort. + +"_Me work_?" he snapped scornfully, as he glared at the speaker. + +Everybody knew what he meant. And everybody knew how Timothy felt, too, +when he edged along the dam and made a savage pass at the plump +gentleman who had spoken to him. + +[Illustration: Timothy began to climb the steep bluff.] + +Luckily the brisk Beaver jumped aside before Timothy Turtle's jaws +closed on him. And he did not say another word to the stranger during +the rest of his stay at the pond. + +But Timothy Turtle became quite talkative. He stopped all he met--old +and young both--and warned them that nobody need try to get him to work, +for he never had worked, and he never intended to. + + + + +XI + +ON THE BEAVER DAM + + +Timothy Turtle was so angry that he went about snapping at everybody and +everything. And since the whole Beaver family kept carefully out of his +way, he had to content himself with setting his jaws upon roots and +sticks. + +Now, the Beavers' dam was made of sticks and mud. So Timothy found +plenty of chances to bite. And because he could not hurt the sticks, no +matter how much he tried, nobody cared. + +Really he acted in a most silly, surly fashion. + +Out of a corner of his eye Brownie Beaver watched Timothy Turtle +closely. Brownie had not forgotten how Timothy seized his mother by the +tail. And while he was helping his elders on the dam, at the same time +he was trying to think of some way to outwit Timothy Turtle. + +It happened that just at that time the dam needed a great deal of +mending. There were so many holes to be filled that the Beavers worked +all night long. And in spite of all their efforts they saw that even +then a few leaks would have to go unmended. But they did not get +snappish nor lose their tempers. They were not like Timothy Turtle. +Though he slept a great part of the night, and waked up to watch the +workers early in the morning, his temper was worse than ever. + +He was paddling through the water close to the dam when Brownie Beaver +called to him. + +"You see that stick??" said Brownie, pointing to a stout piece of box +elder that stuck out of the dam. + +"I'm not blind," Timothy Turtle snarled back at him. + +"Well, please don't bite it, anyhow!" Brownie Beaver begged him. + +That was enough for Timothy Turtle. The mere fact that he thought +somebody didn't want him to do a certain thing was sure to make him do +it. So without saying another word he seized that stick in his powerful +jaws. And bracing his feet against the inner side of the dam, half in +the water and half out, he pulled with all his strength. + +Now and then he turned his beady eyes toward Brownie Beaver and frowned +at him, as if to say, "Don't give _me_ any orders, young fellow! I shall +do just as I please; and nobody can stop me." + +Timothy noticed that Brownie went to a number of the other workers and +whispered to them. And when everyone to whom he spoke called to Timothy +and asked him if he wouldn't just as soon let go of that stick and grab +another one, that crusty old codger made up his mind that nobody should +move him from that spot. He took an even firmer hold and tugged as if he +meant to tear the whole dam down. + +But the Beaver family knew that he couldn't do any damage. And as soon +as it was light enough they all went home to take a nap, leaving Timothy +Turtle to pull away to his heart's content. + + + + +XII + +KIND TIMOTHY TURTLE + + +All day long Timothy Turtle stayed on the Beaver dam. And when the +Beavers returned in the evening, to resume their work, they found +Timothy still clinging to the box elder stick. + +To Timothy Turtle's deep disgust the plump workers gathered round him +and laughed. He could never bear to hear people laugh--laughing was so +silly, he always said. And now Brownie Beaver laughed louder than all +the rest. + +"Look!" Brownie cried, pointing straight at Timothy Turtle. "Isn't he +kind? He has stopped up that big hole for us all day.... And +now"--Brownie added, turning to Timothy Turtle--"now if you'll kindly +_stop working_ for us and move aside we'll fill that hole that's right +under you, with mud." + +Timothy Turtle never felt more ashamed in all his long life. There he +had been working all day long, helping the Beaver family by plugging a +hole in their dam with his flat body--and he had never guessed what he +was doing! + +He let go of the stick and sank hastily in the pond, where the water was +deepest, to bury himself in the soft bottom. And there he stayed and +sulked for the rest of the week, until his visit was done. If he stuck +his head out of the water now and then for a breath of air, he was +careful to let no one see him. + +He did not even bid the Beaver family good-by at the end of his visit, +but left in the middle of the day, when everybody was sound asleep. + +Grandaddy Beaver said it was no more than one could expect of a person +so rude as Timothy Turtle. + +"He was just like that in my great-grandfather's time," the old +gentleman explained. + +And all the rest of the villagers remarked that Timothy Turtle was old +enough to have better manners. Certainly, they said, the youngest Beaver +child knew better than to treat people in such a rude fashion. + +Brownie Beaver's mother especially announced that she had never in all +her life met a gentleman who had treated her so disrespectfully as old +Mr. Turtle. And she grew red and pale by turns as she recalled how he +had seized her by the tail and held her fast for a whole day. + +"I hope," she said, "that by the time he comes here again he will have +learned how to behave himself." + +But Grandaddy Beaver shook his head. + +"Timothy Turtle," he declared, "will be no different even if he lives to +be a thousand years old." + +And everybody said that it was a great pity. + + + + +XIII + +THE PLOT + + +Of all the creatures that walked or swam or flew, Timothy Turtle liked +boys the least of all. He said that if they ever did anything except +throw stones he had never caught them at it. + +"It's a wonder"--he often remarked--"it's a wonder that there's a stone +left anywhere along this creek. I've lived here a good many years; and +no boy ever spied me sunning myself on a rock in the water without +trying to hit me." + +Once in a great while some youngster was skillful enough to bounce a +stone off Mr. Turtle's back. And when the old scamp flopped into the +water he always heard a great whooping from the bank. + +At such times as likely as not Timothy had been awakened from a sound +sleep. But when that jeering noise greeted his ears he knew at once what +had struck him. + +It was a good thing for him that he had a hard back. Nevertheless it +always made him angry to be disturbed when he was taking a nap. And some +people said that if Timothy Turtle ever grabbed a boy by his great-toe, +when he was in swimming, that youngster would limp for many a day +thereafter. + +But the boys went in swimming just the same. Black Creek would have had +to be alive with turtles to keep them out of it on a hot summer's day. +Indeed Farmer Green often said that he wished his son Johnnie would +spend half the time in the hayfield that he wasted around the creek. + +When questioned by his father, Johnnie said that there was an old turtle +in Black Creek that he wanted to catch. + +"What are you going to do with him--make soup of him?" Farmer Green +inquired solemnly. + +Johnnie shook his head. + +"I want to cut my initials on his shell and let him go," he explained. +"Then if I catch him again when I'm grown up I'll know him when I find +him.... I'll put the date under my initials, too," Johnnie added. + +Farmer Green laughed. + +"When you're grown up," he said, "you'll have something else to do +besides catching snapping turtles. This afternoon you may carve your +initials on the hay-rake and then take it over to the big meadow and +play with it." + +For a few moments Johnnie Green couldn't help looking glum. He had +intended to visit the creek that very afternoon. But now he knew that +his father expected him to work--to _work_ on one of the finest days of +the whole summer! + +"I'll let you off all day to-morrow," Farmer Green said. "And you know +there's that calf I told you I'd give you if you helped me with the +haying." + +And then Johnnie actually smiled. + + * * * * * + +Well, the next morning was just as fine as the afternoon before. And +Johnnie Green set off early for Black Creek, with his pockets stuffed +full of cherries, because he was afraid he might get hungry. He ate a +few of them on the way to the creek. But when he reached that delightful +place he found something that made him forget what he had in his +pockets. For there near the top of the bank, too far from the water to +escape him--there lay Timothy Turtle himself, taking a sun-bath on the +warm sand. + + + + +XIV + +CAUGHT! + + +As soon as Johnnie Green saw Mr. Turtle he let out a loud whoop. And as +soon as Mr. Turtle saw Johnnie, _he_ scrambled up and made awkwardly for +the water as fast as he could go. + +But Timothy's fastest, on land, was so slow that Johnnie Green stopped +him in two seconds. + +Catching up a long stick, Johnnie thrust it in front of Timothy Turtle, +who promptly seized it in his hooked jaws. + +Johnnie Green couldn't help laughing at him. + +"You're a stupid old fellow!" he cried. "You could bite that stick all +day and not hurt me." + +But Timothy Turtle said never a word. He wished, however, that he could +shift his grip to one of Johnnie's bare toes. He rather thought, if he +could have done that, that Johnnie Green would give such a yell as had +never before been heard in Pleasant Valley. + +But Johnnie was careful. After catching Mr. Turtle he hardly knew what +to do with him. All summer long Johnnie had kept his jackknife sharp as +a razor, ready to carve his initials on Mr. Turtle's hard shell whenever +the chance came. The knife was in his pocket. There was Mr. Turtle +before him on the sand. And yet Johnnie was puzzled. + +Close at hand his captive looked fiercer than he had appeared at a +distance, lying on a rock in the creek. And his jaws had closed upon +the stick in a vise-like hold. Johnnie winced when he tried to imagine +how he would feel with Mr. Turtle fastened firmly to a toe or a finger. + +It was not a pleasant thought. But Johnnie Green soon had a happier one: +why not turn the old scamp over upon his back? + +Johnnie had heard that a turtle was helpless when upset in that way. And +he had already made up his mind to flop this one over when he realized +that even with his captive upside down there was still a certain +difficulty. + +To be sure, Mr. Turtle couldn't walk away. But he could bite just the +same. And how was a boy going to carve his initials on anybody's back, +when that person was lying on it? + +Johnnie Green saw that that plan wouldn't do at all. But he turned +Timothy over, just for fun, upsetting him neatly by lifting him on the +stick--for Timothy had not sense enough to let go of it in time to save +himself. + +Johnnie stayed there only long enough to make sure that Timothy Turtle +was unable to move. And he soon decided that the savage old rascal would +have to lie on his back until somebody came along and tipped him over. +Then Johnnie Green scampered away. + +To be sure, Mr. Turtle wriggled his legs, and twisted his neck about. +But all his wiggling and twisting were of not the slightest help to him. + +It was the first time in his long life that he had ever found himself in +that position on land. And he was both frightened and angry. + +Old Mr. Crow, who had a way of knowing when there was anything unusual +going on, arrived in time to hear Timothy's remarks. And what he said +about boys--and especially about Johnnie Green--made Mr. Crow catch his +breath. + + + + +XV + +THE REDSKINS' WAY + + +Of course Timothy Turtle was glad that Johnnie Green was gone. But he +was far from happy, lying helpless on his back on the bank of Black +Creek. + +He told Mr. Crow that he hoped Johnnie would forget to come back +again--a remark which made old Mr. Crow laugh. Being very wise, he saw +at once that Timothy Turtle knew next to nothing about boys. + +"I should think," Mr. Crow told Timothy, "you'd want Johnnie Green to +return." + +"Why?" Timothy snapped out his question in an angry tone, as he lay +there upside down and stared at old Mr. Crow, who sat in a tree near-by. + +"Well," Mr. Crow answered, "who'll set you on your feet again if he +doesn't?" + +"Don't you worry about me!" Timothy Turtle sneered. "I'll right myself +as soon as there's a freshet. If there's a big enough rain the creek +will rise as high as I am now. And nobody could keep me on my back in +the water." + +Old Mr. Crow actually snickered. + +"You might have to wait till next spring for a freshet," he said +cheerfully. "And what would you eat meanwhile?" + +Having had a hearty meal of fish just before leaving the creek, Timothy +Turtle hadn't once thought of _eating_. And naturally Mr. Crow's +question troubled him. So he frowned frightfully. And he snapped his +hooked jaws together, for he had to take something in his jaws and bite +it, if it was no more than the air. + +"I suppose"--Mr. Crow remarked--"I suppose you would call that _taking +the air, eh_?" And there was a merry twinkle in his eye. + +"Go away!" Timothy Turtle growled. + +But his guest declined to leave. + +"There's likely to be some fun here," he thought, "and I don't intend to +miss it." + + * * * * * + +If Timothy Turtle was surprised, Mr. Crow certainly was not, when a +little later Johnnie Green and another boy whom he called "Red" (on +account of his hair) came hurrying up to the spot where Timothy Turtle +lay. + +Upon the ground they dropped a number of things, such as pieces of rope, +an old grain-sack, and an axe. + +"Goodness!" said Mr. Crow to himself, as he looked on. "I'm glad I'm not +Timothy Turtle. It appears to me that he's going to have a terrible +time." + +And Timothy himself seemed to think the same. He made savage passes at +Johnnie and Red whenever they came near him. But they took good care to +keep beyond his reach. + +On the whole their captive behaved in a most foolish manner. Instead of +drawing his head as far as he could into his shell, he thrust his neck +out as far as it would go. + +And that was exactly what the boys wanted him to do. Before Timothy +Turtle--who was somewhat slow-witted--before he realized what their plan +was, Johnnie Green and his friend Red had slipped one noose around his +head and another around his body. And after turning their captive right +side up they staked him out upon the sand so that he could not move. + +"There!" Johnnie Green cried when they had Timothy Turtle where they +wanted him. "That's the way the Redskins do with their enemies." + +And his friend the red-haired boy danced something that might have been +an Indian war dance. + +Anyhow, neither old Mr. Crow nor Timothy Turtle had ever seen anything +like it. + + + + +XVI + +JOHNNIE GREEN'S INITIALS + + +Timothy Turtle found himself in a very uncomfortable position, staked +out as he was on the bank of Black Creek, with one rope about his body +and another about his neck. + +And even then Johnnie Green was not satisfied. Though his friend Red +insisted that their captive could do them no harm (saying, "How can he +bite when he can't move his head?") Johnnie Green replied that he would +"fix him" so there couldn't possibly be any accident. And taking the old +grain-sack he had brought back with him, he wrapped it carefully around +Timothy's head, till he looked for all the world as if he had the +earache. + +"There!" Johnnie Green said, when he had finished. "He'll have to bite +through that bag before he bites us; and I guess he'll find he has a +pretty big mouthful." + +Then he pulled out his jackknife and felt its sharp edge with his thumb. + +"Lemme do it for you!" Red begged him, holding out his hand for the +knife. + +But Johnnie Green had no such idea. + +"No!" he said firmly. "I've got to cut my initials myself." + +"He might get loose and grab you," the red-haired boy remarked +hopefully. + +But Johnnie Green told him that he would risk that. + +"Which way are you going to cut them?" Red asked him. + +"What do you mean?" Johnnie inquired. + +"Are you going to make 'em read when he's going or coming?" Red +explained. + +"I hadn't thought of that," Johnnie Green replied. "But I guess _going_ +would be better. Then if he stands up you can read 'em just the same, +without any trouble." + +So Johnnie kneeled down beside Timothy Turtle. It took him some time to +decide just where he would carve his initials on Timothy's shell. And he +had about decided that the best place to put his mark on Mr. Turtle's +back would be exactly in the middle of it, when he cried all at once, +"Look, Red! Look!" + +"Whassamatter?" the red-haired boy wanted to know. + +"This is the queerest thing I ever heard of!" Johnnie exclaimed. "Here +are my initials already cut!" + +Red could not believe him, until he had peered at Timothy's shell +himself. And then he saw that what Johnnie had said was true. + +"There's a date, too," Johnnie pointed out. And he read it aloud. +"That's more'n thirty years ago," he declared. + +But the red-haired boy laughed boisterously. + +"Shucks!" he jeered. "Somebody's been playin' a joke on you. Somebody +knew you were lookin' for this old turtle and put your initials and that +old date on him just to puzzle you." + +Johnnie Green didn't know exactly what to think. But probably he was no +more upset than was Timothy Turtle, who was not having a good time at +all. + +"I don't care if some one did catch this turtle first," Johnnie said at +last. "I'm going to carve my mark on him just the same." + +So he began to cut "J. G." in the exact center of the back of Timothy +Turtle, much to that old fellow's rage. + +And when Johnnie Green had finished the letters he cut the date below +them. + +"What you goin' to do with him now?" Red asked Johnnie then. + +"Turn him loose!" Johnnie replied. + +"Aw--don't do that! Lemme have him!" Red coaxed. + +Johnnie Green said that he was sorry--but he intended to set his captive +free, just as he had planned. + +He soon found that turning Mr. Turtle loose was no easy matter. Strange +to say, Timothy Turtle did nothing to help. On the contrary, he made the +task as hard as he could for Johnnie Green, trying his best to bite that +young man. + +In the end Johnnie had to cut the rope that held Timothy's head. And +when that furious old fellow at last found himself in Black Creek once +more he still wore a noose of rope, like a collar, around his neck. + + * * * * * + +When Johnnie Green told his father about his adventure with Timothy +Turtle, he had a great surprise. Farmer Green said that when he was just +about Johnnie's age he had cut _his_ initials on a turtle, down by the +creek. + +Now, since Johnnie was named for his father, their initials had to be +alike. So the J. G.--and the old date--that Johnnie had found must have +been carved by Farmer Green when he was a youngster. + +Somehow, Johnnie found it very hard to imagine that his father had ever +been a boy like himself and had spent his time playing near the creek, +and carving his initials on the back of a turtle. + +"How old do you suppose that turtle is?" he asked his father. + +"Oh, he must be a regular old settler," Farmer Green declared. "He may +have been around here when your grandfather was a boy, for all I know." + +"Do you really believe that?" Johnnie exclaimed. + +"Well," his father answered, "there's only one way to find out." + +"What's that?" Johnnie inquired eagerly. + +"Ask Mr. Turtle himself," Farmer Green replied with a smile. + + + + +XVII + +TIMOTHY NEEDS HELP + + +Everybody who lived near Black Creek noticed Timothy Turtle's new +collar. And almost every one, being curious, asked Mr. Turtle where he +got it, and why he was wearing it. + +Now, Timothy Turtle would give such folk no answer at all. But old Mr. +Crow knew what had happened--of course. And he took pains to tell all +his friends how Johnnie Green had caught Timothy and tied a rope around +his neck, and cut something on Timothy's back, besides. + +[Illustration: "Let me go!" Fatty Coon shrieked.] + +So it was not long before Timothy Turtle's neighbors began to ask him +what was on his back. + +"My shell's on my back!" he snapped, when any one put that question to +him. + +"Yes--but what's on your shell?" everybody was sure to answer back. + +Timothy Turtle couldn't have replied to that question, even if he had +wanted to. And though he always sneered when hearing it and turned his +head away, as if the matter was something he didn't care to talk about, +there was nobody who was any more eager to know the answer than he. + +To be sure, by raising his head he could get a slanting view of the top +of his shell. But such a glimpse was not enough to tell him anything. + +Under the constant inquiries of his neighbors Timothy's curiosity grew +every day. Soon he took to staring at his reflection in the surface of +the water, with the hope that he might be able to see his back in that +way. + +But it was all in vain. Though Timothy twisted and turned and stretched +his long neck, he couldn't see his own back, no matter how much he +tried. + +Now, there was an ill-mannered scamp named Peter Mink who happened to go +prowling up the creek one day. And as he quietly rounded a bend he came +upon an odd sight. + +In front of him, and perched on a rock in the midst of the water, +Timothy Turtle was going through the queerest motions. He seemed to be +peering into the water at something, while wriggling about in a most +peculiar fashion. + +He did not notice Peter Mink, who stood stock still and watched him for +some time without speaking. + +At last Peter's prying ways got the better of him. He simply had to say +something. + +"What on earth are you doing!" he called to Timothy. + +Mr. Turtle gave a great start. + +"I'm looking at myself--that's all," he said. He was so surprised that +for once he actually answered a question politely. + +His reply amused Peter Mink. And that ill-bred rascal laughed right in +Timothy Turtle's face. + +"Time must hang heavy on your hands, if you can't find anything +pleasanter to do than that," he remarked--for Peter Mink never cared how +rude he was. In fact he liked to make unkind remarks. "Aren't you +afraid," he added, "that you'll wear out the surface of the creek, +gazing into it? I shouldn't like that very well," said Peter Mink, +"because then it couldn't freeze in winter, and you know it's great +sport to hunt muskrats under the ice." + +Well, Peter's speech alarmed Timothy Turtle. And yet he felt that he +could not rest until he knew what was on his back. So he asked Peter +Mink to meet him on the bank. + +"I want you to help me," he said. "I have reason to believe that there's +something written on my back. And you must tell me what it is." + + + + +XVIII + +PETER MINK'S PLAN + + +Now Peter Mink had never learned to read. In the first place, he had +never had a chance to learn. And in the second, he was such a +good-for-nothing rascal that he wouldn't have gone to school anyhow. + +But he did not tell all this to Timothy Turtle. When he stepped behind +Timothy and gazed at his back, Peter Mink thought of a fine way to tease +the old fellow. + +Of course, he had not the slightest idea what those marks on Mr. +Turtle's shell meant. But he looked down at them with a wise smile. + +Mr. Turtle, watching Peter out of the corner of his eye, saw that smile; +and he did not like it in the least. In fact, it made him feel quite +peevish. + +"Well, what do you see?" he asked Peter Mink impatiently. + +"Ah!" Peter Mink replied with a shake of his small head. "I'm not going +to tell you, Mr. Turtle. I don't want to hurt your feelings. And if I +were to explain that your back says you're a disagreeable, mean old +scamp, you know you'd be very angry." + +Peter Mink jumped out of the way just in time. For Timothy Turtle +wheeled with amazing swiftness and snapped at his tormentor. + +"Don't do that!" Peter cried. "_I_ didn't say anything about you, Mr. +Turtle." + +"You'd better not," Timothy warned him. "And if Johnnie Green carved +any such words as those on my shell I don't know what to do. I certainly +don't want to carry them about with me for the rest of my life." He +looked unhappy, to say the least. He knew that probably he would live a +great many years longer. And he was puzzled. + +"Why don't you get a new shell?" Peter Mink inquired. + +"I'd hate to do that," Timothy Turtle told him. "I've had this one a +long time; and it fits me perfectly." + +"Then why don't you get the well-known tailor, Mr. Ferdinand Frog, to +make you a coat that will cover your back? If you did that, nobody could +see what's on your shell." + +"A good idea!" Timothy Turtle exclaimed. "I'll see Mr. Frog at once. And +some day I'll do something handsome for you, because you've been a +great help to me." + +"Why wait?" Peter Mink demanded. "Why don't you do it now?" Knowing that +Timothy was stingy, Peter thought that the old gentleman would soon +change his mind about "doing something handsome" for him. + +"No!" Timothy Turtle declared. "I want to wait a while and think it +over." + +"Well, then," Peter Mink urged him, "why don't you crawl under that +shelving rock and think it over right now?" + +"You ask too many questions," Mr. Turtle told him. "And besides, I must +hurry away and find Ferdinand Frog. I want my new coat as soon as I can +get it. And the longer I stay here, the more time I shall lose." So in +spite of all Peter Mink could say, Timothy slipped into Black Creek and +swam away. + + + + +XIX + +CAREFUL MR. FROG + + +Somebody had knocked. And with a wide smile upon his face Mr. Ferdinand +Frog, the tailor, went to his door and peeped out. + +One look was enough. He shut the door again with great haste and barred +it. And he held one hand over his heart, as if he had just received a +terrible fright. + +"Let me in!" somebody called. The tailor knew that it was Timothy +Turtle's voice, for he had seen that crusty old person standing upon his +doorstep. + +"Go away!" Mr. Frog replied. "I'm not here." + +He was an odd chap--this Ferdinand Frog. One never could tell what he +was going to do--or say. + +"Yes, you are!" Timothy Turtle insisted. "I saw you only a moment ago." + +The tailor then peered out of the window at his caller. + +"There you are now!" Timothy shouted, as he caught sight of Mr. Frog. "I +say, let me in!" + +"I can't," Mr. Frog answered. "I'm sick a-bed." + +"Nonsense!" Timothy cried. + +"Well, I expect I'll be ill if you don't go away," the tailor answered. +"I'm having a nervous chill this very moment." + +He was afraid of Timothy Turtle. And it was no wonder. For Timothy had +tried, more than once to make a meal of the nimble Mr. Frog. + +"I haven't come here to hurt you," Timothy Turtle explained, trying to +smile at the face in the window. "I want you to make me a new coat--a +big one that will cover my back all over." + +To his great disappointment Mr. Frog shook his head with great force. + +"I'm not interested," he announced. + +"Do you mean"--Timothy Turtle faltered--"do you mean that you won't make +a coat for me?" + +"Exactly!" + +"Why?" Timothy pressed him. + +"Too busy!" was Mr. Frog's answer. + +"Who is?" + +"You are!" said Mr. Frog. "Ever since I've known you, you've been trying +to catch me and my friends." + +"Why--er--I was only joking," Timothy Turtle told him. "You mustn't mind +my playful ways. Just make me a coat and I'll do something handsome for +you." + +It was now the tailor's turn to ask questions. + +"What"--he inquired--"what will you do?" + +"I couldn't just say at this moment," Timothy replied. + +"Why not?" + +"Oh, I'd want to think a while," said Timothy Turtle. + +"Very well!" was the tailor's answer. "I've no objection, though it's +something I never do myself." + +"I wish you'd come outside a moment, since you don't want me inside your +shop," Timothy remarked. "I'd like to whisper to you." + +"I'm deaf," Mr. Frog informed him. "I couldn't hear a single word, even +if you were to shout your head off." + +"You can hear what I'm saying now well enough," Timothy pointed out. + +"I read the lips," said Mr. Frog with a snicker. + +That speech made Timothy Turtle start. + +"Then if you can read my lips, no doubt you can read what's on my back," +he said. + +"That's easy," the tailor observed. "Your shell's on your back, of +course." + +Timothy Turtle glanced up with a look of scorn. + +"Don't be silly!" he snapped. "I mean, can you read what's carved on my +shell?" + +"Certainly!" Mr. Frog replied. And he began to mutter, as if to himself, +"J. G.--that means _just grumpy_, of course----" + +Timothy Turtle interrupted him quickly. + +"I don't care to hear any more," he screamed. And turning away, he +waddled towards the water. + +"That Ferdinand Frog has no manners," he spluttered. "I only wish he +wasn't quite so spry." And Mr. Turtle looked very fierce as he snapped +his jaws together. + + + + +XX + +THE ALMANAC + + +One rainy night Peter Mink stopped at Black Creek; and calling loudly to +Timothy Turtle he asked for a place to sleep. + +"You remember," he said, when Timothy drew himself upon the bank, "you +told me that you would do something handsome for me some time. And now +that I'm wet and tired I hope you can offer me a snug, dry spot in which +to spend the night." + +"What can you do to pay me?" asked Timothy Turtle. He never did anything +for anybody without pay. "Can you saw wood?" + +Now, Peter Mink would rather stay out in the rain forever than saw a +single stick of wood. So he said: + +"No, I can't!" just like that. + +"Well, it's about time you learned," said Timothy Turtle. + +Peter Mink was about to leave in disgust; and he was wondering what name +he would call Timothy Turtle, when he was a little further away, when he +noticed that Timothy had a thin book in his hand. + +"What's that?" Peter asked. + +"It's the Farmer's Almanac," said Timothy Turtle. "I've been looking +through it; but my eyes are bad and I can't read." + +Now that was quite true; for Timothy's eyes _were_ bad--and he had never +learned to read. + +"I'll tell you what I'll do," Peter Mink announced. "If you'll give me a +place to spend the night I'll read the Farmer's Almanac to you." + +"Come right in!" Timothy Turtle cried, leading the way to a cozy nook +beneath a big rock which was not far from the water. And Peter Mink was +very glad to creep inside that comfortable shelter. He took the Almanac +from Timothy Turtle and they both sat down. + +Peter opened the book. + +"I see," he said, "that it says the weather was fair to-day, but look +out for a heavy rain to-night!" + +Now, Timothy Turtle had not felt quite sure that Peter Mink knew how to +read. But when he heard that he quickly changed his mind. + +"That's exactly what's happened!" he exclaimed. And he was greatly +pleased. + +But the next moment he noticed that Peter Mink was holding the book +upside down. Timothy could tell that because the picture of the man +ploughing, on the cover, was upside down. + +"You can't read!" he cried angrily. "You don't even know how to hold a +book. You've got it bottom side up!" + +But Peter Mink only smiled pleasantly at him. + +"You don't understand," he said. "That's the way I was taught to read. +Then, if you want to read when standing on your head, you don't need to +turn the book over.... It's the latest method," he explained. + +"Oh!" said Timothy Turtle. "That's different!" + +"Yes--quite different!" said Peter Mink. + +"What does the Almanac say about next week?" Timothy inquired. + +"Time to plant corn!" Peter told him. + +"That's so!" said Timothy Turtle. "Mr. Crow was telling me this very day +that Farmer Green was ploughing his cornfield; but of course that +doesn't interest me much.... What else does the book say?" Timothy +continued. + +"Well, here's some general advice," Peter Mink remarked, as he looked at +the Almanac again. "It says: 'If anybody comes to you and asks for a +place to sleep, give him a bed--but first of all, give him a good +supper.'" + +"I don't believe I want to hear any more to-night," said Timothy Turtle +hastily. "It's late; so we'd better go to bed right away." + +Peter Mink was somewhat disappointed. He had hoped to get a fish or two +to eat. But there was nothing he could say, though he did wish Timothy +Turtle could take a hint. + +"In the morning you can read to me again," Timothy told him. + +So they went to bed. + +But in the morning the Almanac was nowhere to be found. Timothy Turtle +hunted for it in every place he could think of--except Peter Mink's +pocket. + +After Peter had gone, Timothy continued his search. And at last he found +the Almanac beneath the heap of dry leaves which Peter Mink had used for +a bed. + +"That's queer!" Timothy Turtle said. "I'm almost sure I looked there +before Peter Mink went away.... My eyes must be growing worse." + +The more he thought of the matter, the gladder he was that he hadn't +found the book before. For there was no knowing but that Peter Mink +might have found some advice about giving a good breakfast to a guest +who stayed over night. + +Then Timothy Turtle went into Black Creek and caught a fine fish, for he +was hungry. And he enjoyed his meal mightily, because he had it all to +himself. + +While he was eating he kept thinking what a disagreeable fellow Peter +Mink was. No doubt he would have been surprised had he known that Peter +Mink was thinking the same thing about _him_, at exactly the same +moment. + + + + +XXI + +A QUEER WISH + + +Fishing was one of Timothy Turtle's favorite sports. He was a skillful +fisherman, too. And though it only happened once that he caught more +than one fish at a time, on that occasion he captured seven. This was +the way it happened: + +Johnnie Green had come to Black Creek to fish for pickerel. And Timothy +Turtle was much annoyed when he found Johnnie fishing in the pool that +he liked best of all. Timothy thought it was mean of Johnnie Green to +catch _his_ fish, in _his_ creek. + +And Timothy's beady eyes glared as he watched Johnnie from a safe +hiding-place under the bank. + +He saw that Johnnie Green was a good fisherman. Before he moved on he +caught three big fish from that pool; and one of them--the biggest of +the three--was the very fish on which Timothy Turtle had been expecting +to dine that day. + +It was really no wonder that he was annoyed. And when Johnnie went +further up the creek to try his luck elsewhere Timothy Turtle slipped +into the water and followed him. + +The more fish he saw Johnnie Green catch, the angrier Timothy grew. And +he went out of his way to tell a number of his neighbors what was +happening. + +"Something ought to be done about it!" he complained. + +"Why don't you go down and speak to Farmer Green?" Peter Mink +suggested. Peter liked fish, too. And he had often said that Johnnie +had no right to take food away from him, when everybody knew that there +was a plenty at the farmhouse. + +Timothy Turtle did not care for Peter's suggestion. + +"I've no time to waste talking to Farmer Green," he said. "It seems to +me a letter would be better. Now, if somebody would write a letter, and +get everybody to sign his name to it, and send it down to Farmer Green +by a messenger, I would do my share to help. I would tell the messenger +where to leave the letter so that Farmer Green would be sure to find +it." Timothy then said that he must hurry back to the creek, for he +wanted to see how many fish Johnnie Green took, so the number could be +mentioned in the letter. But before he left Timothy told Peter Mink to +go and find somebody to write the letter. "There's old Mr. Crow," +Timothy said. "You might ask him. He could use one of his quills for a +pen, you know." + +When Timothy Turtle reached the creek once more he found that while he +was talking to Peter Mink, Johnnie Green had moved oh again. + +So Timothy started to follow him. But what should he see, lying on the +bank right before him, but a string of seven pickerel! Johnnie Green had +left them there, while he went still further up the creek to catch more. + +Timothy Turtle suddenly changed his mind about sending a letter to +Farmer Green. He wished that Johnnie would come there to fish every day. + +"He's a kind boy, after all!" said Timothy Turtle to himself. "I never +dreamed that he was catching these fish for me. But here they are, +waiting for me! For Johnnie must have known that I would find them." + +Timothy Turtle didn't say anything more. Of course he was only talking +to himself, anyhow. And he seized the string of pickerel and waddled +into the bushes, where he ate every one of those seven fish. + +When Peter Mink met Timothy the next day he said he had not yet found +anybody who would write the letter to Farmer Green. + +"Mr. Crow told me that if it was anybody but you he might be willing to +pull out one of his quills for a pen," Peter explained. "But he said +that he hoped Johnnie Green would come here every day to fish, until +there are no fish left for you." + +Timothy Turtle sniffed. + +"You go back," he directed Peter Mink, "and tell Mr. Crow that _I_ hope +Johnnie Green will come here _twice a day_ until he has caught every +fish in Black Creek." + +Peter Mink thought that that was a queer thing for Timothy to wish. +Neither he nor old Mr. Crow could understand it. + + + + +XXII + +THE UNWELCOME GUEST + + +Ferdinand Frog did not like Timothy Turtle. But he always said he +thought Mr. Turtle could be _trusted_. + +"You can _depend_ on him," Mr. Frog often remarked. "Yes, you can depend +on him to grab you if he ever gets a chance." + +And all the rest of the musical Frog family agreed with him. + +It is not surprising, therefore, that they never invited Timothy Turtle +to attend their singing parties in Cedar Swamp. It made no difference +how much Timothy Turtle hinted. Though he frequently took pains to tell +Ferdinand Frog how fond he was of music, Mr. Frog never once asked him +to come to a concert. + +In private Mr. Frog and his friends often spoke of Mr. Turtle--and +giggled. And one of the Frog family even made up a song about Timothy +Turtle, which the whole company loved to chant in Cedar Swamp, safe--as +they thought--from Timothy's snapping jaws. + +But one fine summer's evening they had a great surprise. They had +scarcely begun their nightly concert when Timothy Turtle appeared, out +of the water and crawled upon an old stump, right in their midst. + +"Good evening!" he cried. "I was just passing on my way home; and +hearing the singing, I thought I'd stop and enjoy it." + +For a few moments none of the Frog family said a word. And then +Ferdinand Frog spoke up and asked Mr. Turtle a question: + +"Have you had your dinner?" + +"No, I haven't," Timothy answered. "But you needn't trouble yourselves +on my account. Go on with your singing. And if I feel faint no doubt I +can find a bite to eat hereabouts." + +Now, Mr. Turtle hoped that his speech would put the singers quite at +their ease. But they looked at one another and rolled their eyes as if +to say, "This Timothy Turtle is a dangerous person. Look out for him!" + +At the same time they did not wish to appear frightened. And Ferdinand +Frog's mother's uncle even made a short speech, saying that he hoped Mr. +Turtle would enjoy the singing half as much as everybody else enjoyed +his company. + +He was about to make some further remark. But no one knew what. For +Timothy Turtle wheeled about to look at the old gentleman. And the +moment Timothy moved, Ferdinand Frog's mother's uncle jumped hastily +into the water from the hummock where he had been sitting, and swam +away. + +The rest of the company then sang a song. And their listener said that +he had never heard anything like it. + +"I wish you'd sing it again," he said, "with your mouths open and your +eyes shut." + +But the musical Frog family objected that they were not used to singing +in that fashion. + +"Why don't you keep your own eyes shut?" Ferdinand Frog asked Mr. +Turtle. "Then you wouldn't know whether ours were open or closed." + +"Let us _all_ shut our eyes!" Timothy Turtle then suggested. And when +the Frog family began another song, a few of the younger and more +foolish singers followed Mr. Turtle's advice. + +So, too, did Mr. Turtle himself--_for a few moments_. + +But he soon opened his eyes slyly. And he became very angry when he saw +that most of the singers were watching him. + +"You aren't doing as I asked you!" he shouted. + + + + +XXIII + +A MERRY SONG + + +Timothy Turtle made such a noise that the Frog family had to stop +singing. + +"It's not fair!" he cried. "You're peeping!" + +"Well, so are you!" Ferdinand Frog retorted. + +"I only opened my eyes to make sure that you were doing as I asked you +to," Mr. Turtle replied with an injured air. + +"And we didn't shut ours, because we wanted to watch _you_," said Mr. +Frog. + +"Can't you trust me?" Timothy snapped. + +"Certainly!" Ferdinand Frog replied. + +"Oh, yes! We can trust you!" And he winked at his friends. + +"You don't want to hurt my feelings, do you?" Timothy Turtle went on. + +"No, indeed!" everybody exclaimed. + +And then Ferdinand Frog told Timothy that they would sing a special song +in his honor. + +"Fire away!" Timothy ordered them. And the whole company knew, when he +said that, that if he really cared anything at all for singing he never +would have spoken of it in that fashion. + +They were just about to begin the song when Timothy Turtle stopped them. + +"What's this thing called?" he demanded. + +"It's known," Ferdinand Frog explained, "as 'A Merry Song.'" + +And then the whole Frog family began to bellow their loudest: + + Come let us sing a merry song! + To you it may sound sad. + And if you think it loud and long + _We_ think that it's not bad. + + "We'll sing about a grumpy one + Who snaps and bites all day. + And if you call that "having fun" + We make reply, "Go 'way!" + + He has a glittering, wicked eye + And also cruel jaws. + And if you ask the reason why, + We'll answer you, _"Because!"_ + + He'll stretch his neck and grab you quick-- + Don't let him come too near! + And if you poke him with a stick + He'll seize that too--oh, dear! + + Now, we'll admit he swims quite well + And that he's slow ashore. + Don't ask us if he wears a shell + Until we tell you more. + + Don't ask us if he's fond of fish + Nor seek to learn his age. + And kindly don't express a wish + To see him in a rage! + + Don't ask us if his claws are strong + And if he has a tail. + It might be short and blunt, or long + And pointed like a nail. + + We do not want to cause you pain. + We would not give offense-- + But, sir, you'll not come here again + If you have any sense. + +After the last echo of the song had lost itself in the depths of Cedar +Swamp, the singers all turned, smiling, to their listener. + +But his face wore no smile. On the contrary, Timothy Turtle frowned +darkly. + +"You can't fool me!" he cried. "You don't like me! You don't want me +here!" + +Ferdinand Frog swallowed a few times. + +"Well," said he, "of course my manners are so elegant that I simply +_couldn't_ dispute one of my elders. And anyhow, Mr. Turtle, you'd find +that our singing sounded twice as well if you were half a mile away." + +"It certainly couldn't sound any worse than it does here," Timothy +Turtle declared--a remark which made the Frog family grin broadly. + +He said no more, but slipped into the water and struck out towards home. + +There was a lively scattering of those who found themselves in Timothy +Turtle's path. And for a time it looked as if the singing party had +broken up in disorder. + +But after a while everybody came back again--that is, everybody but +Timothy Turtle. He hurried away and spent most of the whole night buried +in the mud at the bottom of Black Creek. For even until daybreak that +merry song came floating now and then across Pleasant Valley. + +And Timothy Turtle did not like it. He thought it not only loud and +long, but most unpleasant as well. + +THE END + + + + +Little Jack Rabbit Books + +(Trademark Registered) + +By DAVID CORY + +Author of "Little Journeys to Happyland" + +Colored Wrappers With Text Illustrations. + +A new and unique series about the furred and feathered little people of +the wood and meadow. + +Children will eagerly follow the doings of little Jack Rabbit, and the +clever way in which he escapes from his three enemies, Danny Fox, Mr. +Wicked Wolf and Hungry Hawk will delight the youngsters. + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT'S ADVENTURES + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND DANNY FOX + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE SQUIRREL BROTHERS + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND CHIPPY CHIPMUNK + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE BIG BROWN BEAR + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND UNCLE JOHN HARE + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND PROFESSOR CROW + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND OLD MAN WEASEL + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND MR. WICKED WOLF + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND HUNGRY HAWK + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE POLICEMAN DOG + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND MISS MOUSIE + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND UNCLE LUCKY + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE YELLOW DOG TRAMP + + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK + + + + +LITTLE JOURNEYS TO HAPPYLAND + +By DAVID CORY + +PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED. INDIVIDUAL COLORED WRAPPERS. + +Printed in large type--easy to read. For children from 6 to 8 years. + +A new series of exciting adventures by the author of the LITTLE JACK +RABBIT books. This series is unique in that it deals with unusual and +exciting adventures on land and sea and in the air. + +THE CRUISE OF THE NOAH'S ARK + +This is a good rainy day story. On just such a day Mr. Noah invites +Marjorie to go for a trip in Noah's Ark. She gets aboard just in time +and away it floats out into the big wide world. + +THE MAGIC SOAP BUBBLE + +The king of the gnomes has a magic pipe with which he blows a wonderful +bubble and taking Ed. with him they both have a delightful time in +Gnomeland. + +THE ICEBERG EXPRESS + +The Mermaid's magic comb changes little Mary Louise into a mermaid. The +Polar Bear Porter on the Iceberg Express invites her to take a trip with +him and away they go. + +THE WIND WAGON + +Little Hero stepped aboard the Wind Wagon and started on a journey to +many wonderful places and had a delightful time. + +THE MAGIC UMBRELLA + +A little old man gave Jimmy the Magic Umbrella which took him to +Happyland, where he had many adventures. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Tale of Timothy Turtle, by Arthur Scott Bailey + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF TIMOTHY TURTLE *** + +***** This file should be named 20716.txt or 20716.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/7/1/20716/ + +Produced by Joe Longo and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/20716.zip b/20716.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..adafa23 --- /dev/null +++ b/20716.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f3d4e45 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #20716 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20716) |
