Grandfather Frog's eyes twinkled, but he made his voice very deep
and gruff as he replied: "Chugarum! You're a scamp, Jerry Muskrat,
and Little Joe Otter is another. What trick are you trying to play
on me now?"

Jerry Muskrat and Little Joe Otter looked a wee bit sheepish, for it
was true that they were forever trying to play tricks on Grandfather
Frog. "Really and truly, Grandfather Frog, there isn't any trick
this time," said Jerry. "There is a meeting at the Big Rock to try
to decide what to do to keep Farmer Brown's boy from setting traps
around the Smiling Pool and along the Laughing Brook, and everybody
wants your advice, because you are so old and so wise. Please come."

Grandfather Frog smoothed down his white and yellow waistcoat and
pretended to think the matter over very seriously, while Jerry and
Little Joe fidgeted impatiently. Finally he spoke.

"I am very old, as you have said, Jerry Muskrat, and it is a long way
over to the Big Rock."

"Get right on my back and I'll take you over there," said Jerry eagerly.

"I'm afraid that you'll spill me off," replied Grandfather Frog.

"No, I won't; just try me and see," begged Jerry.

So Grandfather Frog climbed on Jerry Muskrat's back, and Jerry
started for the Big Rock as fast as he could go. When all the Minks
and the Otters and the Coons and the Muskrats saw them coming, they