"Oh, yes, I can sit up on my hind legs, and eat a nut," the squirrel girl said. "But nobody taught me. I could always do it. I don't call that a trick."
"Well, it is a trick for me," said Squinty. "But where are the hickory nuts you spoke of?"
"Right here," answered Slicko, the jumping squirrel, hopping about as lively as a cricket, and she pointed to a pile of nuts in a hollow stump. Squinty tried to chew some, but, as soon as he took them in his mouth he cried out:
"Oh my! How hard the shells are! This is worse than the sand! I can't chew hickory nuts! Have you no other kind?"
"Oh, yes, I know where there are some acorns," answered Slicko, "but I do not care for them as well as for hickory nuts."
"Oh, please show me the acorns," begged Squinty.
"Here they are," spoke Slicko, jumping a little farther, and she pointed to a pile of acorns in another hollow stump.
"Oh, these are fine! Thank you!" grunted Squinty, and he began to eat them. All at once there sounded through the woods a noise like:
"Chat! Chat! Chatter! Whir-r-r-r-r-r!" "My, what's that?" cried Squinty, turning quickly around.
"That is my mamma calling me," said Slicko, the jumping squirrel. "I shall have to go home to my nest now. Good-by, Squinty. I like you very much, and I hope I shall soon see you again."