And when the secret was all wrapped up, Crackie took it outside in the yard and she made a big mud pie—a pie out of nice clean mud, such as the beaver animals use to plaster their houses. Inside the mud pie Crackie put her secret, and then she waited for Toodle and Noodle to come home from school.
The beaver boys were not long in coming, either. They did not stop much to play on the way, for they were very anxious to find out the secret. Soon they were at their house. Out in front was Crackie, making believe stuff sugar plums in her mud pie. The sugar plums were only stones, but it was easy enough to pretend with them. I've often done it.
"Where's the secret?" cried Toodle.
"Oh, Crackie, are you going to tell us?" said Noodle.
"There it is," said Crackie, and she pointed to the mud pie she had made.
"That!" cried Noodle.
"Pooh! What a secret!" exclaimed Toodle.
"Wouldn't you like a piece?" asked Crackie, and she looked over at her mother and smiled. Mrs. Flat-tail laughed. Toodle and Noodle looked disappointed-like.
"Only a mud pie," said Noodle.
"Come on, let's play ball," suggested Toodle.