Tiny told his mother how he had become separated from Chatty. He also told her about his meeting with the various creatures of the forest.
“I think I may have been traveling in a circle all the time,” he concluded.
“All bright, heavenly bodies travel in a circle,” said his mother with pride. “At any rate I am glad that you are safe at home once more. Now that we have finished our meal, I will make the room more tidy. Can I lift this hunting bag?”
“I will put it away,” answered Tiny, seizing the bag and pulling it into the storeroom. “To-morrow I will go out into the jungle and bring you enough provisions to last all winter. Now, dear mother, tell me what has happened in Squirreltown during my absence.”
“On the day you left a number of bears took up their abode in the heart of the city,” began Mrs. Redsquirrel, with a shudder. “We squirrels could do nothing. We tried to drive them away by throwing twigs at them, but the dreadful things only laughed at us, and said they would stay as long as they lived. We couldn’t leave our homes to go out into the country where the trees are loaded with acorns and beech-nuts, so we stayed inside and waited for help. The poor chipmunks in the ground must have suffered more than we.”
“I am sorry that I was not here to comfort you,” said Tiny.
“I missed you sorely, for you are so much braver than I,” said Mrs. Redsquirrel meekly. “Last night some of the older bears went away to get food. Early this morning we heard a most terrible noise. I peeped from my window and could see the bears scattering in every direction, and could hear them roaring and begging for mercy. Some of them fell over logs and rolled helplessly about. In a few moments they had all disappeared, and they did not return. Presently an army of wee soldiers came to the city, buzzing merrily, and settled down on that old hemlock tree where the Flyingsquirrel family formerly lived. Then Bushy Graysquirrel rushed in to tell me that several maids of honor to the fairy queen wanted to speak to me. She said that they bore news from you.”
“How remarkable!” exclaimed Tiny. “It sounds, indeed, like a fairy tale.”
“It was more like a bad dream to me,” declared Mrs. Redsquirrel. “Between you and me I was afraid to go down, and yet I wanted to hear something about you. In a few minutes I had brushed myself as neat as possible, and stood in the presence of the queen’s army. A tiny maid of honor, with shiny wings, came forth and told me how you had saved the queen’s life. She said that she and her soldiers had promised to keep their eyes on Squirreltown, and how they would see that the bears disturbed us no more. I was also assured that you were well, and that you would be back soon. I thanked her for her kindness, and returned home. Squirreltown at once became the liveliest place you ever saw. All the citizens mingled together as if they belonged to one family, and they cheered loudly for Tiny Redsquirrel, whom they called their deliverer. They are planning to give you a party late this afternoon.”
“That will be delightful,” said Tiny, beginning to feel very important. “Last night I saw a crown of glittering stars circling about the tops of our tallest trees. I never saw stars that shone brighter than they.”