ved Happy Jack's life. Since then life had been too full
of pleasant things to think of anything so unpleasant as Shadow the
Weasel. But one night Happy Jack had a bad dream. Yes, Sir, it was a
very bad dream. He dreamed that once more Shadow the Weasel was after
him, and this time there was no Farmer Brown's boy to run to for help.
Shadow was right at his heels and in one more jump would have him.
Happy Jack opened his mouth to scream, and--awoke.

He was all ashake with fright. It was a great relief to find that it was
only a dream, but even then he couldn't get over it right away. He was
glad that it was almost morning, and just as soon as it was light enough
to see, he crept out. It was too early to go over to Farmer Brown's
house; Farmer Brown's boy wouldn't be up yet. So Happy Jack ran over to
one of his favorite lookouts, a tall chestnut tree, and there, with his
back against the trunk, high above the ground, he watched the Green
Forest wake as the first Sunbeams stole through it. But all the time he
kept thinking of that dreadful dream.

A little spot of black moving against the white snow caught his sharp
eyes. What was it? He leaned forward and held his breath, as he tried to
make sure. Ah, now he could see! Just ahead of that black thing was a
long, slim fellow all in white, and that black spot was his tail. If it
hadn't been for that, Happy Jack very likely wouldn't have seen him at
all. It was Shadow the Weasel! He was running swiftly, first to one side
and then to the other, with his nose to the snow. He was hunting. There
was no doubt about that. He was hunting for his breakfast.

Happy Jack's eyes grew wide with fear. Would Shadow find his tracks? It
looked very much as if Shadow was heading for Happy Jack's house, and
Happy Jack was glad, very glad, that that bad dream had waked him and
made him so uneasy that he had come out. Otherwise he might have been
caught right in his own bed. Shadow was almost at Happy Jack's house
when he stopped abruptly with his nose to the snow and sniffed eagerly.
Then he turned, and with his nose to the snow, started straight toward
the tree where Happy Jack was. Happy Jack waited to see no more. He knew
now that Shadow had found his trail and that it was to be a case of run
for his life.

"My dream has come true!" he sobbed as he ran. "My dream has come true,
and I don't know what to do!" But all the time he kept on running as
fast as ever he could, which really was th