"I—I don't just like to," he confessed. "You know, he might not like it and—and it doesn't seem as if it would be quite polite."
Peter sniffed. "That wouldn't trouble me any if he were my cousin," said he.
Jerry shook his head. "No, I don't believe it would," he replied, "but it does trouble me and—and—well, I think I'll wait awhile."
Now all this time Paddy had been hard at work. He was bringing the longest branches which he had cut from the trees out of which he had built his dam, and a lot of slender willow and alder poles. He pushed these ahead of him as he swam. When he reached the foundation of his house, he would lean them against the pile of mud in the middle with their big ends resting on the foundation. So he worked all the way around until by and by the mud pile in the middle couldn't be seen. It was completely covered with sticks, and they were cunningly fastened together at the tops.
XII
JERRY MUSKRAT LEARNS SOMETHING
| If you think you know it all |
| You are riding for a fall. |
| Use your ears and use your eyes, |
| But hold your tongue and you'll be wise. |