CHAPTER XXVI 



THE ADDICT 



HE sun came up, with its joy- 

 ous wakening of the woods. 

 All the Squirrel world was 

 bright and alert — all but 

 one. Mother went forth to 

 the sun-up meal, Brownhead went rollick- 

 ing forth, and Nyek-nyek went gliding, 

 too. But Bannertail lay still. He had 

 no words to state his case; he did not 

 know that he had a case to state. He 

 only knew that he was dull and sad, and 

 did not feel the early morning call of joy. 

 The juices of his weird feast were dried on 

 paws and head, and the smell of them, 

 though faint, was nauseating to him. 



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