“Red hair?” interposed the squirrel, looking at the raccoon.
“Freckled face?” asked the raccoon, looking at the squirrel.
“Why, yes!” said the pigeon, in surprise. “He had red hair and a freckled face; but how should you two know anything about him?”
The squirrel and the raccoon nodded at each other.
“Same boy, I should say!” said Cracker.
“Same boy, I should say!” answered Coon.
“What is it?” asked Toto, curious as usual. “Tell us about it, one of you! It is early yet, and we have plenty of time.”
“Well, I will tell you,” said the squirrel. “I meant to keep it and tell it next time, for I cannot make up stories as easily as some of you, and this is something that really happened; but I might just as well tell it now, especially as Pigeon Pretty has told you about the boy.
“You need not be at all sorry for that boy,” he continued. “He is a bad boy, and he deserves all he got, and more too.”
“Dear, dear!” said the grandmother. “I am sorry to hear that. What did he do, Mr. Cracker?”