perfectly satisfied with his little plain brown coat and took the best
of care of it.

"One day as he was hurrying home to dinner, he climbed up on an old
stump to look around and make sure that the way was clear. Over in a
little path in the meadow grass was walking old Mr. Meadow Mouse. He
was strolling along as if there was nothing in the world to fear. Way
back behind him in the same little path, walking very fast but very
quietly, was big Mr. Bob Cat. His eyes were yellow, and a hungry look
was in them. He didn't see Mr. Meadow Mouse, but he would in a few
minutes. Mr. Chipmunk saw that he would, and that there was no place
for Mr. Meadow Mouse to hide.

"'Humph! I never meddle in other people's affairs, and this is none of
my business,' said little Mr. Chipmunk.

"But old Mr. Meadow Mouse was a friend. He thought a great deal of Mr.
Meadow Mouse, did little Mr. Chipmunk. He couldn't bear to think of
what would happen to Mr. Meadow Mouse if big Mr. Bob Cat should catch
him. Then, almost without realizing what he was doing, little Mr.
Chipmunk began to shout at big Mr. Bob Cat and to call him names. Of
course big Mr. Bob Cat looked up right away and saw little Mr.
Chipmunk sitting on the old stump. His eyes grew yellower and
yellower, he drew his lips back from his long, sharp teeth in a very
angry way, and his little bob tail twitched and twitched. Then, with
great leaps, he came straight for the old stump on which little Mr.
Chipmunk was sitting.

"Little Mr. Chipmunk didn't wait for him to get there. Oh, my, no! He
took one good look at those fierce, hungry, yellow eyes and long,