right then all his fear left him.

"Pooh!" said Johnny Chuck scornfully. "Who's afraid of him!" He
suddenly realized that he was no longer a helpless little Chuck who
couldn't take care of himself, but big and strong, with sharp teeth
with which his old enemy had no mind to make a closer acquaintance,
when there were mice and snakes to be caught without fighting. So he
puffed out his chest and went on, and actually began to enjoy himself,
and almost wished for a chance to show how big and strong he was.




VII

JOHNNY'S FIRST ADVENTURE


After old Whitetail the Marshhawk passed Johnny Chuck without offering
to touch him, Johnny began to feel very brave and bold and important.
He strutted and swaggered along as much as his short legs would let
him. He held his head very high. Already he felt that he had had an
adventure and he longed for more. He forgot the terrible lonesome
feeling of a little while before. He forgot that he had given away the
only home he had. He didn't know just why, but right down deep inside
he had a sudden feeling that he really didn't care a thing about that
old home. In fact, he felt as if he wouldn't care if he never had
another home. Yes, Sir, that is the way that Johnny Chuck felt. Do you
know why? Just because he had just begun to realize how big and strong
he really was.