Toodle and Noodle heard a gentle little voice somewhere off in the woods, and it kept saying:
"Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear! What shall I do? Who will take care of me? Oh dear!"
"Hark!" cried Noodle. "Did you hear that?"
"Indeed, I did," answered his brother. "Come on, let's go home!" and he started toward the pond.
"Go home!" exclaimed Noodle. "What for? Let's go see what that is."
"No, sir! Never!" cried Toodle. "Why most likely it's a bear or a wolf, making believe cry like that so we'll come closer, and then he can grab us. No, sir! don't you go see what it is at all. Come on home!"
"Oh, don't be a silly!" exclaimed Noodle. "That's some little boy or girl animal in trouble. A wolf or a bear couldn't cry in such a tiny, weeny voice as that. I say let's see what it is."
Toodle listened to the crying voice again. Truly it did sound like some little animal, and not like a bad bear, and finally Toodle said:
"Well, let's go take a look. But be all ready to run in case there's danger. Remember Grandpa Whackum isn't here to help us."
"Oh, I'll be careful," promised Noodle.