English
Heproveshimselfaneighbortrue
Whoseeksakindlydeedtodo.
—Whitefoot.
OccasionallyTimmytheFlyingSquirrelcameovertovisitWhitefoot.
IfWhitefootwasinhishousehealwaysknewwhenTimmyarrived.
Hewouldhearasoftthumpdownnearthebottomofthetallstub.
HewouldknowinstantlythatthumpwasmadebyTimmystrikingthefootofthestubafteralongjumpfromthetopofatree.
Whitefootwouldpokehisheadoutofhisdoorwayandthere,sureenough,wouldbeTimmyscramblinguptowardshim.
WhitefoothadgrowntoadmireTimmywithallhismight.
ItseemedtohimthatTimmywasthemostwonderfulofallthepeopleheknew.
YouseetherewasnoneoftheotherswhocouldjumpasTimmycould.
TimmyonhispartenjoyedhavingWhitefootforaneighbor.
FewofthelittlepeopleoftheGreenForestaremoretimidthanTimmytheFlyingSquirrel,butherewasonebesidewhomTimmyactuallyfeltbold.
ItwassuchanewfeelingthatTimmyenjoyedit.
Soitwasthatintheduskofearlyevening,justaftertheBlackShadowshadcomecreepingoutfromthePurpleHillsacrosstheGreenMeadowsandthroughtheGreenForest,thesetwolittleneighborswouldstartouttohuntforfood.
Whitefootneverwentfarfromthetall,deadstubinwhichhewasnowliving.Hedidn’tdareto.
Hewantedtobewhereatthefirstsignofdangerhecouldscamperbacktheretosafety.
Timmywouldgosomedistance,buthewasseldomgonelong.
HelikedtobewherehecouldwatchandtalkwithWhitefoot.
YouseeTimmyisverymuchlikeotherpeople,—helikestogossipalittle.
OneeveningWhitefoothadfoundithardworktofindenoughfoodtofillhisstomach.
Hehadkeptgoingalittlefartherandalittlefartherfromhome.
Finallyhewasfartherfromitthanhehadeverbeenbefore.
TimmyhadfilledhisstomachandfromnearthetopofatreewaswatchingWhitefoot.
SuddenlywhatseemedlikeagreatBlackShadowfloatedrightoverthetreeinwhichTimmywassitting,andstoppedonthetopofatall,deadtree.
ItwasHootytheOwl,anditwassimplygoodfortunethatTimmyhappenedtoseehim.Timmydidnotmove.
Heknewthathewassafesolongashekeptperfectlystill.
HeknewthatHootydidn’tknowhewasthere.
Unlesshemoved,thosegreateyesofHooty’s,wonderfulastheywere,wouldnotseehim.
TimmylookedovertowherehehadlastseenWhitefoot.
Therehewaspickingoutseedsfromapineconeontheground.
ThetrunkofatreewasbetweenhimandHooty.
ButTimmyknewthatWhitefoothadn’tseenHooty,andthatanyminutehemightrunoutfrombehindthattree.
IfhedidHootywouldseehim,andsilentlyasashadowwouldswoopdownandcatchhim.Whatwastobedone?
“It’snobusinessofmine,”saidTimmytohimself.“Whitefootmustlookoutforhimself.Itisnobusinessofmineatall.
PerhapsHootywillflyawaybeforeWhitefootmoves.
Idon’twantanythingtohappentoWhitefoot,butifsomethingdoes,itwillbehisownfault;heshouldkeepbetterwatch.”
Forafewminutesnothinghappened.ThenWhitefootfinishedthelastseedinthatconeandstartedtolookformore.
TimmyknewthatinamomentHootywouldseeWhitefoot.WhatdoyouthinkTimmydid?Hejumped.Yes,sir,hejumped.
Down,down,down,straightpastthetreeonwhichsatHootytheOwl,Timmysailed.Hootysawhim.Ofcourse.Hecouldn’thelpbutseehim.
HespreadhisgreatwingsandwasafterTimmyinaninstant.
Timmystrucknearthefootofatreeandwithoutwastingaseconddartedaroundtotheotherside.Hewasjustintime.Hootywasalreadyreachingforhim.UpthetreeranTimmyandjumpedagain.AgainHootywastoolate.
AndsoTimmyledHootytheOwlawayfromWhitefoottheWoodMouse.
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