THE SEVEN SLEEPERS 203 



resolution, in which Alice-Palace's good-time noise 

 easily soared like a siren-whistle above all the other 

 expressions of assent. 



"Be careful and don't swallow the holes," Mr. 

 Prindle warned them a few moments later, as he 

 brought out a big panful of brownish-red, spicy 

 fried cakes cooked in twisted rings. 



The Band promised to use every precaution, and 

 there was an adjournment of all other business until 

 the pan and the pitcher were alike empty. 



"Are your chipmunks still alive?" queried the 

 Captain, as they all sat down on the vast, squatty- 

 legged settee next to Mr. Prindle 's rocker. 



"Yes, indeed," replied the latter, "they've been 

 with me nigh on to four years now. " 



Alice-Palace's eyes became very big. 



"Not Chippy-Nipmunk?"she whispered to the 

 Captain. 



"Exactly," replied that official, "and then some." 



Thereafter, at Mr. Prindle 's suggestion, they all 

 sat stony-still and mousy-quiet while he made a 

 funny little hissing, whistling noise. From under the 

 porch there came a scurrying rush, and the two 

 bright eyes of a big striped chipmunk popped up over 

 the edge of the porch-step. A minute later, from two 

 holes in a near-by bank, two other chipmunks dashed 

 out. They all had ashy-gray backs, with five stripes 

 of such dark brown as to look almost like black. 

 Their tails had a black, white-tipped fringe, while 

 the gray color of the back changed into clear orange- 

 brown on their flanks and legs. 



