“What is that?”
“While crows are feeding, one of their number is always supposed to watch from the top of a high tree and warn if danger approaches. This young crowling was greedy and always wanted to eat. They warned him, but he would not obey; then they killed him.”
“And what did the Great King say about Squirrie?”
“He will see the head of Squirrie’s clan to-morrow morning—the Big Red Squirrel—and they will decide what to do.”
“Why did you not go to see the Big Red Squirrel yourself?” I asked.
“I was afraid to. I fear squirrels as a class, though there are many single ones that I like—Chickari, for example, who never hurt a sparrow in his life.”
CHAPTER XIX
SQUIRRIE’S PUNISHMENT
THE next morning the Big Red Squirrel sent down two squirrel policemen, and you may be sure every English sparrow on the street, and the robins, grackles, and wild sparrows were all on tiptoe.
I heard Chummy’s call for me, “T-check, t-chack, Dicky O! T-check, t-chack, Dicky O!” and I flew out of the bird-room with all speed, out to our favorite elm tree. There were the two squirrel policemen, old sober fellows, climbing on the roof of the lodging house and going straight to Squirrie’s front door hole which a dozen young sparrows were eager to show them.