and licked her soft fur, and told her who he was, and how sorry he was for
having left her in so cowardly a manner, to be beaten by the red squirrel.

The good little Silvy told Nimble not to fret about what was past, and
then she asked him for her sister Velvet-paw. Nimble had a long sorrowful
tale to tell about the death of poor Velvet; and Silvy was much grieved.
Then in her turn she told Nimble all her adventures, and how she had been
caught by the Indian, girl, and kept, and fed, and tamed, and had passed
her time very happily, if it had not been for thinking about her dear lost
companions. "But now," she said, "my dear brother, we will never, part
again; you shall be quite welcome, to share my cage, and my nice stores of
Indian corn, rice, and nuts, which my kind mistress gives me."

"I would not be shut up in a cage, not even for one day," said Nimble,
"for all the nice and grain in Canada. I am a free squirrel, and love my
liberty. I would not exchange a life of freedom in these fine old woods,
for all the dainties in the world. So, Silvy, if you prefer a life of
idleness and ease to living with me in the forest, I must say good-bye to
you."

"But there is nothing to hurt us, my dear Nimble--no racoons, nor foxes,
nor hawks, nor owls, nor weasels; if I see any hungry-looking birds or
beasts, I have a safe place to run to, and never need be hungry!"

"I would not lead a life like that, for the world," said Nimble. "I
should die of dullness; if there is danger in a life of freedom, there is
pleasure too, which you cannot enjoy, shut up in a wooden cage, and fed at
the will of a master or mistress."

"Well, I shall be shot if the Indians awake and see me; so I shall be off."