The Tale of Major Monkey | Page 3

like me," he replied slowly.
"Of course, there's my cousin, Jasper Jay. He's not a bad sort--except that he's rude, noisy, and a good deal of a rascal. But the others--well, most of them are too greedy. If I didn't watch this cornfield closely some of them wouldn't care if they didn't leave a single kernel for anybody else."
"Do you like corn?" the Major inquired.
Mr. Crow swallowed once or twice before answering.
"I can eat it," he said finally. "It keeps one alive, you know. But if you've never had any, I advise you not to touch it."
Major Monkey thanked him.
"Don't mention it!" said Mr. Crow. "I'm delighted to be of help to a stranger. And if there is anything else I can do, don't hesitate to call on me."
Major Monkey thanked him again. And then he said:
"I'd like to get acquainted with all the neighbors--such as they are. And I would suggest that you give a party and invite me and a lot of people to come to it, so I can meet them."
Old Mr. Crow bit his tongue. It struck him that Major Monkey was just the least bit too forward.
"What about refreshments?" Mr. Crow asked him. "It's easy to see that you don't know the neighbors. I can tell you that they have enormous appetites--every one of them."
"Oh! that's easily arranged," said Major Monkey. "Tell everybody to be sure to have his refreshments before he comes to the party."
"A good idea!" Mr. Crow exclaimed. With that difficulty removed he was willing to give a party, for he quite liked the prospect of introducing everybody to "his old friend, Major Monkey."
"You're sure you don't know anybody in this valley except me?" Mr. Crow asked. He didn't want to divide with anyone else the honor of being a friend of anybody so imposing as the Major.
"I haven't spoken to a soul but you," Major Monkey assured him.
Mr. Crow said he was glad of that. And then he asked the Major to keep out of sight until the time came for the party to begin.
At first Major Monkey objected. And not until Mr. Crow promised to have the party that very day--an hour before sunset--did he consent to hide himself.
"Where's a good place?" he asked Mr. Crow.
"That tree is hollow," said Mr. Crow, pointing to the one in which he had first seen the Major. "Just slip inside that hole there, about half way up the trunk, and don't come out till I call you!"
Major Monkey scrambled back into the tall tree. And Mr. Crow watched him narrowly until he was out of sight. Indeed, the old gentleman even continued to stare at the hole after his friend had vanished inside it.

IV
Wanted--A Lodging
Afterward old Mr. Crow had to admit that he must have been forgetful. He had told Major Monkey to hide inside the hollow tree. And being a total stranger in the neighborhood, of course the Major didn't know that an owl lived there.
So he entered the dark hole boldly. And soon he came dashing out of it much faster than he had gone in, shrieking at the top of his voice.
Old Mr. Crow was poised on a branch, as if he were waiting for something. And he almost smiled as he looked at the Major and saw that he was shaking. The poor fellow's teeth were chattering, too.
"What's the matter?" Mr. Crow called to him.
"There's--there's a Tiger inside this tree!" Major Monkey stammered. "I know it's a Tiger, for I saw his eyes."
"Nonsense!" Mr. Crow exclaimed. And he burst into a loud haw-haw. "It's nothing but an old Owl. I forgot all about him. A fine soldier you are--afraid of an old Owl!"
Major Monkey straightened his cap and looked as soldierly as he could.
"You're mistaken, in a way," he told Mr. Crow. "I admit I was afraid. I was afraid I had frightened him, waking him up so suddenly. So I retreated."
Old Mr. Crow stopped laughing and looked very thoughtful. It occurred to him that Major Monkey was a somewhat slippery person. Certainly he could slip out of a hole about as easily as anybody Mr. Crow knew.
"You'll have to find some other place for me to hide," the Major announced. "I don't want to stay in this tree all day, for I shouldn't like to disturb a gentleman's rest."
Mr. Crow pondered for a few moments.
"You see that old haystack?" he said at last, pointing across the fields. "Go and burrow under that. And be back here exactly an hour before sunset."
Major Monkey saluted.
"That suits me," he said. And then he turned and scurried down to the ground, leaped quickly upon the fence, and galloped off along the topmost rails.
* * * * *
Mr. Crow spent a very busy day inviting everybody to his party, to meet his old friend,