First Edition
CONTENTS
- I. [The Woodsfolk Learn the Rules about Fire]
- II. [Chaik Jay Carries Bad News]
- III. [Mrs. Owl Invites Killer the Weasel to the Woods and Fields]
- IV. [Fur and Feathers Plan a Campaign]
- V. [Killer the Weasel Makes a Plan Likewise]
- VI. [A Plan to Foil the Enemy]
- VII. [The Cleverness of Chaik Jay]
- VIII. [Killer Finds the Pond Mighty Lonesome]
- IX. [Trouble Comes Home to the Bad Little Owls]
- X. [The Big Rain Puts an End to Evil Doings for a Time]
ILLUSTRATIONS
- [The Bad Little Owls]
- [She lit above Killer’s head while he was busy eating the robin]
- [“When a fellow can smell he can see with his nose just who has been there�]
- [The Doctor said Chaik Jay had had too much party]
- [“Run for your lives, everybody. Killer has come to the pond!�]
- [Chaik frightens the mice away, to save them from Killer the Weasel]
- [Chaik dropped from the tree and told Tad all about everything]
- [The Owl helps Killer find the stump where the mice live]
The Bad Little Owls
CHAPTER I
THE WOODSFOLK LEARN THE RULES ABOUT FIRE
“Take to the water, quick!� shouted Doctor Muskrat. “Climb a tree!� advised Chatter Squirrel, balancing on the tip end of a limb. And they had the Woodsfolk so excited they didn’t know what to do. Most of them couldn’t climb if they wanted to, and mighty few of them like to swim. So those who were there tried to run away, and those who weren’t came to see what was going on. Tommy Peele’s woods were just alive with scuttling and fluttering. All because Louie Thomson had brought a lantern to light his party with. He had brought all sorts of things to eat, too, and he planned to sleep all night in the Woods and Fields, in a tent made of one of his mother’s blankets.
Of course Louie couldn’t think what was the matter with the Woodsfolk. But Tommy Peele’s big furry dog, Watch, who was with him, knew well enough. He sat there with his tongue out, laughing at them.
When Tad Coon saw Watch laughing he got over being frightened, and then he was curious. He waded out of the pond and came over to look at the little sputtery flame dancing inside the lantern. Of course he thought it was a bug. Most everything that hasn’t leaves or fur or feathers is a bug to Tad Coon. Bugs do themselves up in very funny packages sometimes before they’re all through hatching. He put out his handy-paw to catch it.