down in a soft bed of leaves, so he was not hurt in the least. He landed
on his feet, just like a cat, and gave a loud squeal, he was so
surprised.

And then Squinty ran away. Almost anybody would have run, too, I guess,
after falling down in a balloon, and being bounced out that way. Squinty
had had enough of balloon riding.

"I don't know where I'm going, nor what will happen to me now," thought
Squinty, "but I am going to run and hide."

And run he did. He found himself in the woods; just the same kind of
woods as where he had first met the two balloon men, only, of course, it
was much farther off, for he had traveled a long way through the air.

On and on ran Squinty. All at once, in a tree over his head, he heard a
funny chattering noise.

"Chipper, chipper, chipper! Chat! Chat! Whir-r-r-r-r-!" went the noise.

Squinty looked up in the tree, and there he saw a lovely little girl
squirrel, frisking about on the branches. Then Squinty was no longer
afraid. Out of the leaves he jumped, giving a squeal and a grunt which
meant:

"Oh, how do you do? I am glad to see you. My name is Squinty. What is
your name?"

"My name is Slicko," answered the lively little girl squirrel, as she
jumped about. "Come on and play!"