That is what Slicko said, but of course the boy and his sisters could not understand. But they could see that Slicko was very gentle, and, as she lay there, in the boy’s warm hand, the two little girls petted her, and loved Slicko.
“Now I’ll put her in a box,” the boy said, “and give her some nuts to eat and some water to drink.”
“That will be fine!” thought Slicko, for she was very thirsty and hungry.
A little later she found herself in a small wooden box. In one corner were some nuts, in another a dish of water, and in a third corner some nice soft cotton, almost like the kind that comes on the inside of the pods of the milkweed plant.
“Well, this isn’t like my home-nest in the tree, nor like Aunt Whitey’s nest,” thought Slicko, “but as long as I have to stay here, I might as well make the best of it. I can eat and drink, anyhow. I shall not be hungry or thirsty.”
Slicko took up a hickory nut in her paws, that were like little hands, and, sitting up on her hind legs, with her tail spread out over her like an umbrella, she began to eat the meat of the nut.
“Oh, look!” cried one of the girls, who was watching. “Come and see the squirrel eat, Sallie!”
“Ha! It isn’t so wonderful—just to eat,” thought Slicko. “I wonder how those girls would like it, if I came to look on every time they ate!”
Slicko could not get away, so she had to eat with the boy’s sisters looking on. Not that Slicko minded very much, for she was beginning to like her new home, and she felt sure that she would be in no danger from dogs, or other animals. And if she got enough to eat, water to drink, and had a nice, warm place to sleep in, what more could a squirrel ask?