THE ADVENTURES OF JERRY MUSKRAT

BY THORNTON W. BURGESS



CHAPTER I: Jerry Muskrat Has A Fright

What was it Mother Muskrat had said about Farmer Brown's boy and his
traps? Jerry Muskrat sat on the edge of the Big Rock and kicked his
heels while he tried to remember. The fact is, Jerry had not half heeded.
He had been thinking of other things. Besides, it seemed to him that
Mother Muskrat was altogether foolish about a great many things.

"Pooh!" said Jerry, throwing out his chest, "I guess I can take care
of myself without being tied to my mother's apron strings! What if
Farmer Brown's boy is setting traps around the Smiling Pool? I guess
he can't fool your Uncle Jerry. He isn't so smart as he thinks he is;
I can fool him any day." Jerry chuckled. He was thinking of how
he had once fooled Farmer Brown's boy into thinking a big trout was
on his hook.

Slowly Jerry slid into the Smiling Pool and swam over towards his
favorite log. Peter Rabbit stuck his head over the edge of the bank.
"Hi, Jerry," he shouted, "last night I saw Farmer Brown's boy
coming over this way with a lot of traps. Better watch out!"

"Go chase yourself, Peter Rabbit. I guess I can look out for
myself," replied Jerry, just a little crossly.