“I’ll think over what you say,” he told Simon Screecher. “And now, since
it’s almost dawn, we’d better not hunt any longer to-night. But I’ll meet
you again at dusk if you’ll come to my house.”

“Very well, Cousin Solomon!” Simon answered. “I’m sure that after you’ve
had a good sleep you’ll be ready to agree with me.”

“If that’s the case, I may not take any nap at all,” Solomon replied.

“Oh! You ought to have your rest!” his cousin exclaimed. Simon knew that
if Solomon went all day without sleep he would be frightfully peevish by
nightfall.

“Well—I’ll try to get forty winks,” Solomon promised. “But I don’t believe
I can get more than that, because I have so much on my mind that I’m sure
to be wakeful.”

Simon Screecher was somewhat worried as they parted. His wailing,
tremulous whistle, which floated through the shadowy woods, showed that he
was far from happy.





XVIII
XVIII - A COUSINLY QUARREL