22 THE NUTCRACKERS OF NUTCRACKER LODGE. 



Thf fact was, that Featherhead had lately been form- 

 ing alliances such as no reputable squirrel should even 

 think of. He had more than once been seen going out 

 evenings with the Rats of Rat Hollow, a race whose 

 reputation for honesty was more than doubtful. The fact 

 was, further, that old Longtooth Rat, an old sharper and 

 money-lender, had long had his eye on Featherhead as just 

 about silly enough for their purposes, engaging him in 

 what he called a speculation, but which was neither more 

 nor less than downright stealing. 



Near by the chestnut-tree where Nutcracker Lodge was 

 situated was a large barn filled with corn and grain, be- 

 sides many bushels of hazel-nuts, chestnuts, and walnuts. 

 Now old Longtooth proposed to young Featherhead that 

 he should nibble a passage into this loft, and there estab- 

 lish himself in the commission business, passing the nuts 

 and corn to him as he wanted them. Old Longtooth knew 

 what he was about in the proposal, for he had heard talk 

 of a brisk Scotch terrier that was about to be bought to 

 keep the rats from the grain ; but you may be sure he 

 kept his knowledge to himself, so that Featherhead was 

 none the wiser for it. 



"The nonsense of fellows Kke Tip Chipmunk!" said Feath- 

 erhead to his admiring brothers and sisters. " The perfectly 

 stupid nonsense ! There he goes, delving and poking, pick- 

 ing up a nut here and a grain there, when / step into prop- 

 erty at once." 



