So the next time she ran toward the piece of apple on the table, and the boy moved the paper hoop in front of her, [Slicko gave a sudden little jump, and, right through the paper she went], breaking a hole in it, and landing close to the piece of apple.
“Hurrah!” cried the boy. “There she goes!”
“Oh, wasn’t that cute!” exclaimed Mollie.
“Just too sweet for anything,” spoke Sallie. “I hope she didn’t hurt herself!”
“Hurt herself? Of course not!” cried Bob. “How could she, when the paper was so soft and thin? And she has learned another trick now, haven’t you, Slicko?”
Slicko was too busy eating the apple to answer, even if she could have spoken boy language. She sat up on her hind legs, with her tail spread out over her head, and, holding the bit of apple in her paws, which were like little hands, she nibbled at the sweet pulp.
“Will she do it again?” asked Mollie.
“I guess so,” answered the boy. “I’ll try her once more. This time I’ll give her a nut.”
When Slicko had finished eating the apple, Bob took her gently up in his hands, and set her down at one end of the table. On the other end he placed some pieces of hickory nut meats, with the shells off.