Yes, Sir, he had turned his back on the Smiling Pool, and nothing that Jerry Muskrat could say made the least bit of difference.
" asked Jerry Muskrat, who happened to be swimming past.
Billy Mink and Jerry Muskrat came along, and as soon as they saw Grandfather Frog, they began to laugh, too.
He had whirled like a flash on Jerry Muskrat, but Jerry had just laughed in the most provoking manner and ducked under water.
That was the tail of Jerry Muskrat hitting the water.
Indeed, he can sit perfectly still so long, and Longlegs can stand perfectly still so long, that Jerry Muskrat and Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter have had many long disputes as to which of the two can keep still the longest.
And over on top of his big house sat Jerry Muskrat.
Then, through the help of Jerry Muskrat, they found the lonely pond of Paddy the Beaver deep in the Green Forest, and there, because their secret had been well kept, presently they found peace and hope and then happiness.
"Hello, Jerry Muskrat!
" asked Jerry Muskrat, who had been listening while Mrs.
Peter Rabbit looked over at Jerry Muskrat sitting on the Big Rock, and Jerry winked.
As luck would have it, neither of them did, and Peter had a very pleasant time gossiping with Jerry Muskrat, listening to the sweet voices of unseen singers in the Smiling Pool,—the Hylas, which some people call peepers,—and eating the carrot which Farmer Brown's boy had left for him.
So presently he decided that he would go down to the Smiling Pool to find out how Jerry Muskrat was, and if Grandfather Frog was awake yet, and if the sweet singers of the Smiling Pool had begun their wonderful spring chorus.
" "Begin at the beginning," said Jerry Muskrat.
QUACK IS DISTRUSTFUL Jerry Muskrat thinks there is no place in the world like the Smiling Pool.
" "Perfectly," spoke up Jerry Muskrat, who had been listening from the top of the Big Rock, where he was lunching on a clam, "unless you are not smart enough to keep out of the clutches of Reddy Fox or Old Man Coyote or Hooty the Owl or Redtail the Hawk.
" demanded Jerry Muskrat, who happened along just then.
Jerry Muskrat swam back and forth, making little silver lines on the surface of the Smiling Pool and squeaking contentedly, for it was the hour which he loves best.
Danny Meadow Mouse told Johnny Chuck; Johnny Chuck told Peter Rabbit; Peter Rabbit told Jumper the Hare; Jumper the Hare told Prickly Porky; Prickly Porky told Bobby Coon; Bobby Coon told Billy Mink; Billy Mink told Little Joe Otter; Little Joe Otter told Jerry Muskrat, and Jerry Muskrat told Grandfather Frog.
Jerry Muskrat was busy filling his new house with food for the winter.
