it struck him that it would not do to accuse Miss Crane of
the murder, because by doing so he would expose his breach of faith with
her, but the scent of the roasted flesh of Ma Terrapin came strong just
then, and he knew that it was Crane who, discovering his trick, had
killed her.

He managed, however, to reply briskly:

"Sissy, dear, I am but tolerable. But how is your family to-day?"

"My brother and sister are much improved, Terrapin. They are both as
fat as tallow. By-the-bye, what about that trade you proposed to me?"

"I am ready, Miss Crane, for a trade any day. When shall it be?"

"No time so good as the present, and if you jog along to the other end
of the pond, I will fix my house here, and soon catch up with you."

Terrapin professed great delight, and toddled along; but when he had
gone a little way his bad habit of thinking aloud came on him, and he
was heard to say:--

"My poor ma! my poor ma is dead! O you wicked Crane! I know by the
scent of the meat that you have killed my ma. What can I do now?"

Miss Crane knew then that she had been discovered, and she began to
think that it was time to remove to another district, for Terrapin had
many friends in the woods, such as rabbits, jackals, lions, and
serpents, and if Terrapin moaned so loud, all the people of the woods
would know what she had done, and many would no doubt assist him to
punish her. Casting about in her mind for the best place, she
remembered an extremely tall tree which was not far from Terrapin's
house, a very lofty clean-shafted tree, on the top of which she would be
safe from surprise.

Thither she hastily removed her belongings, and soon established herself
comfortably. She had also provided herself with a store of strong
sticks to be used as weapons in case of necessity.

Terrapin meanwhile crawled along, moaning loudly his lamentations.
Suddenly Rabbit popped out of the woods, and stood in his path. He soon
was made aware of Terrapin's bereavement, and strongly sympathised with
him. Terrapin related the story in such a way that made Miss Crane
appear to be a murderess, against whom the people of the woods should
take vengeance.

"Then," said Rabbit, "that must be Miss Crane, who is building her house
on the very top of that tall tree near your place."

"Is she?" asked Terrapin. "I did not know that. She was to have met me
here; but I see she knows that she is detected, and is already taking
measures to prot