cap is hideous. It's enough to make anybody ill, just to see it."

"I think I can please you," said Jimmy Rabbit. "But you'll have to do
exactly as I say, or my plan won't work."

Now, Jasper Jay was really not at all eager to fight Reddy Woodpecker.
Reddy had a very sharp bill, which was even longer than Jasper's, and
just as strong. And Reddy could strike a powerful blow with his bill. So
Jasper Jay was glad enough to accept help from a person like Jimmy
Rabbit, who was always thinking of new schemes.

"I'll leave everything to you," said Jasper.

"Good!" cried Jimmy Rabbit. "And now you must wait right where I tell
you to, while I go to find Reddy Woodpecker. Follow me!" he ordered.

And Jasper Jay followed him, while Jimmy skipped briskly through the
woods. He appeared to be looking for something. And at last he seemed to
have found it, in a swampy hollow where water stood here and there in
pools. Anyhow, he stopped beside a cedar tree and said to Jasper Jay:

"You must stand beside this tree; and you mustn't stir out of your
tracks."

Jimmy Rabbit pointed out the exact spot where he wanted Jasper Jay to
station himself. And since it happened that there was a puddle of water
there, it was only to be expected that Jasper Jay should begin to
grumble.

XIX

COLD FEET

YES! Jasper Jay looked sulky when Jimmy Rabbit told him to stand in the
puddle of water, close beside the cedar tree.

"How long do you want me to stay here?" Jasper growled. "I can tell you
that it's not very pleasant to stand in a pool of water a great
while--on a cold day like this."

Now, all this happened quite late in the fall. And it was true that the
day was a cold one. In fact, the weather seemed to be growing colder
every minute.

"I won't ask you to wait any longer than is necessary," said Jimmy
Rabbit. "And if you want me to put Reddy Woodpecker where he can't eat
any nuts, and you don't have to _see_ him, you must follow my
directions.... When you're ill and go to Aunt Polly Woodchuck, the herb
doctor, you always take her advice, don't you?"

Jasper admitted that he did.

"Well, then, you must do just as I say. You know, it always makes you
ill to look at Reddy Woodpecker. And I'm going to cure you, if you'll
only give me a chance."

So Jasper Jay went and stood in the puddle. He screamed a good deal as
he stepped into the cold water.

"This is terrible!" he groaned. "Do hurry with your scheme, or I shall
have