Part 11 (1/2)
”I wasn't bawling at you,” Peter Mink answered. And he was strangely polite, for him. ”I was calling for help. Can't you see that my foot is caught in a trap?”
At that Grumpy jumped down upon the ice and took a good look at Peter Mink. He saw, then, that Peter spoke the truth. ”This trap hurts my foot, I can tell you,” Peter Mink whined.
”Maybe it will teach you not to screech at people,” Grumpy told him.
”You're going to help me, aren't you?” Peter Mink asked his cousin anxiously.
”That trap belongs to Farmer Green's hired man,” Grumpy informed Peter Mink. ”I saw him when he set it there. Perhaps you would like to have me send word to him that you're using it.”
”Oh! Don't do that!” Peter begged piteously.
”Well, then--suppose I get old dog Spot to come and see what he can do!
He'd have you out of that trap in no time!”
But that suggestion didn't suit Peter Mink any better.
”For goodness' sake, can't you think of something else?” he wailed.
His voice rose higher and higher as he spoke. And Grumpy Weasel showed his sharp teeth as he warned Peter Mink again not to squall at him, for he wouldn't stand it.
At last Peter saw that Grumpy did not intend to help him at all. So it occurred to him that perhaps he could hire his cousin to free him from the trap. ”I'd do anything for you if you could help me out of this fix,” he said finally.
”Will you drive Mr. Snowy Owl away from Pleasant Valley?” Grumpy cried.
”Certainly!” said Peter Mink with great promptness, as if that were the easiest matter in the world.
That answer surprised Grumpy Weasel. He had no idea that Peter Mink could do any such thing. And he said as much, too.
”You understand,” Peter explained, ”it may take me some time to get rid of him. It's mid-winter now. But I can promise you that I'll have him out of the valley by April Fool's Day!”
XXVI
HOW GRUMPY HELPED
Grumpy Weasel wondered how Peter Mink was going to get Mr. Snowy Owl out of Pleasant Valley. He had never dreamed that Peter could do it. But as he thought the matter over he remembered that Peter was a good deal bigger than himself.
”If I were Peter Mink's size I would give Mr. Snowy Owl the worst punis.h.i.+ng he ever had!” Grumpy exclaimed under his breath. ”So maybe Peter can do as he claims, after all.”
”Very well!” Grumpy Weasel told Peter Mink. ”This is a bargain. I'll help you out of the trap. And you'll rid Pleasant Valley of Mr. Snowy Owl by April Fool's Day.”
”Agreed!” Peter Mink cried. ”And now, how are you going to set me free?”
”I'm going to bite your leg off,” Grumpy Weasel said cheerfully.