All of a sudden Slicko felt thirsty. She knew there was no water up in the attic, but there was plenty down stairs in the kitchen. Bob always left a pan full there on the floor for his pet.
“I’ll go down stairs and get a drink in the kitchen,” said Slicko to herself.
Squirrels can see in the dark, almost as well as can owls, as I told you before. Soon Slicko was making her way safely down the front stairs.
As she got to the kitchen, she saw a light burning low. And, by this light Slicko could see a man, with a piece of black cloth over his face, taking knives and forks and spoons from a table, and putting them into his pocket.
Slicko, of course, did not know that the things were knives and forks and spoons. She only knew they were the things Bob and his sisters, and father and mother ate with. And, when she saw the man putting them into his pocket, Slicko thought they might be something good for her to eat.
“That must be Bob’s papa,” thought Slicko. “Well, I’ll give him a surprise. I’ll run up his leg and go into his pocket. Then he’ll know I’m home again.”
[CHAPTER XII]
SLICKO FINDS HER NEST
Scampering softly over the oilcloth of the kitchen floor, Slicko came close to the man. Slicko thought it was Bob’s papa, but it was not. I’ll soon tell you who the man was.