Dickie Deer Mouse had to repeat that speech several times before Mr. Crow noticed him. But at last the old gentleman caught sight of his visitor. And when he heard what Dickie said he looked far from pleasant.
"Asking my pardon is one thing," Mr. Crow spluttered. "And receiving it is another."
"I'm very sorry," Dickie Deer Mouse replied. "I didn't mean to frighten you."
Mr. Crow gave a sudden hoarse haw-haw.
"Pooh!" he cried. "You don't think I was scared, do you?"
"You called for help," Dickie reminded him.
"Certainly I did," Mr. Crow agreed. "I wanted somebody to help you out of my house, before I trampled on you and broke one of your legs—or maybe two or three of 'em."
That explanation gave Dickie Deer Mouse another surprise; for he had supposed all the time that Mr. Crow didn't know who—or what—had awakened him.
"Oh!" he cried. "I thought that you thought I was somebody else."