“Well, I guess I’d better stay here for a while,” thought Slicko to herself. “There are a few nuts here, and I can eat them when I get hungry. When I want more, I shall have to go out and get them, but, by that time, it may be safe. Yes, I’ll stay here to-night, anyhow.”
Slicko peeped out of the opening to the nest—it was a sort of front door to the squirrel house. Slicko could see that it was getting dark in the woods; that night was coming on. And night, Slicko knew, was no time for a little girl squirrel to be alone in the forest.
There were big-eyed owls flying about then, and other enemies that might catch her.
“So I shall be better off staying in the nest, even if Aunt Whitey isn’t at home,” thought Slicko. “Poor Aunt Whitey!” she whispered. “I wonder where she can be.”
Then Slicko happened to think that perhaps her squirrel aunt might be hiding outside somewhere, as wild animals often do hide, near their nests, or homes, whenever they have been frightened away.
“I’ll call to her,” said Slicko to herself.
Going softly to the opening to the nest, Slicko put out her head, and called:
“Aunty! Aunty Whitey! Where are you?”
She listened, but all she heard in reply was the singing of a robin, the call of a grasshopper and the noise of the wind in the trees.