If I started to travel south on old dog Spot's back I'd reach my
journey's end before you had gone half way."

"Dear me!" said Jolly Robin. "Then we can't travel together after
all."




XXI

A Sweet Tooth


After his ride on old dog Spot, Major Monkey went to the henhouse for
eggs even oftener than he had gone before.

Perhaps he had become fonder of eggs. Or perhaps he had become bolder.
Anyhow, he noticed that old dog Spot gave him a wide berth. Whenever
old Spot saw him he tucked his tail between his legs and ran, yelping,
into the house.

Now, Johnnie Green soon discovered that something--or somebody--was
frightening old Spot almost every day. And having nothing else to do
one morning, he made up his mind that he would watch and see what
happened. So he climbed to the cupola on top of the big barn. And
there he stayed for a long time, keeping a sharp eye on old Spot as he
wandered about the farm buildings.

It was a good while before anything happened. But Johnnie Green did