"What's that you say?" asked Karr, bristling up. "What harm has Grayskin ever done you?"
"He has slain the one whom I loved best," the snake declared, "and I want to be avenged."
Before the snake had finished speaking, Karr made a dash for him; but the reptile lay safely hidden under the tree stump.
"Stay where you are!" Karr concluded. "We'll manage to drive out the caterpillars without your help."
THE BIG WAR OF THE MOTHS
The following spring, as Karr was dashing through the forest one morning, he heard some one behind him calling: "Karr! Karr!"
He turned and saw an old fox standing outside his lair.
"You must tell me if the humans are doing anything for the forest," said the fox.
"Yes, you may be sure they are!" said Karr. "They are working as hard as they can."
"They have killed off all my kinsfolk, and they'll be killing me next," protested the fox. "But they shall be pardoned for that if only they save the forest."