girl said. "But nobody taught me. I could always do it. I don't call
that a trick."

"Well, it is a trick for me," said Squinty. "But where are the hickory
nuts you spoke of?"

"Right here," answered Slicko, the jumping squirrel, hopping about as
lively as a cricket, and she pointed to a pile of nuts in a hollow
stump. Squinty tried to chew some, but, as soon as he took them in his
mouth he cried out:

"Oh my! How hard the shells are! This is worse than the sand! I can't
chew hickory nuts! Have you no other kind?"

"Oh, yes, I know where there are some acorns," answered Slicko, "but I
do not care for them as well as for hickory nuts."

"Oh, please show me the acorns," begged Squinty.

"Here they are," spoke Slicko, jumping a little farther, and she pointed
to a pile of acorns in another hollow stump.

"Oh, these are fine! Thank you!" grunted Squinty, and he began to eat
them. All at once there sounded through the woods a noise like:

"Chat! Chat! Chatter! Whir-r-r-r-r-r!" "My, what's that?" cried Squinty,
turning quickly around.

"That is my mamma calling me," said Slicko, the jumping squirrel. "I
shall have to go home to my nest now. Good-by, Squinty. I like you very