[CHAPTER VI]
SLICKO GOES NUTTING
Slicko was so surprised, at first, by the cries of Tum Tum, and at the fear which the big elephant showed, that she did not know what to think. It really seemed that Tum Tum was afraid of her—of a little, jumping squirrel girl!
Then Slicko happened to remember what Mappo had told her.
“If ever you see Tum Tum,” the monkey had said, “tell him at once that you are not a mouse or a rat.”
“Ha! That’s what I must do!” thought Slicko. “Tum Tum must be afraid of me. I’ll speak to him.”
Scrambling half way up the trunk of a tree, to make herself higher, and nearer to the big ears of Tum Tum, Slicko cried out in her chattering voice:
“I’m not a mouse, Tum Tum! I’m not a rat!”
“Ha! What’s that?” asked the elephant, flapping one of his ears sideways, so he could hear better. “What did you say?”