mp on every dog I see
before he has time to pounce on me. Now I am awfully sorry about this,
for I have been wanting to meet Zip for ever so long, as I think I am the
only cat in town who doesn't know him."

When Zip was nearly to the river he heard the voices of children playing
on the bank. So he crept carefully forward under the bushes until he came
to a place where he could peer through. There, sure enough, were five or
six little boys and girls having a picnic. Some were in wading, skirts and
trousers rolled up above the knees, while others were just spreading out a
tablecloth on the mossy bank preparatory to setting their table for
luncheon.

While Zip was looking, one little girl took out of her basket some
delicious looking fried chicken, and as she piled the nicely browned
pieces on a plate, she put the breasts on top to make it look more
tempting. It made Zip's mouth water so for a taste that he decided to keep
well hidden and see if they would not leave the table for a moment so he
might jump out and steal a piece. As he waited another little girl lifted
out of her basket some nut cookies and big, thick slices of angel cake,
while a third arranged some stuffed eggs and big dill pickles.

Now all these things Zip adored with the exception of the pickles, so he
lay down with nose stretched out in their direction as far as he could
without being seen, that he might at least smell the goodies while he
waited. But as he waited the bread dough on his back dried and hardened
and made his coat stick up in all sorts of queer shapes, though he never
once thought of it. _He_ was too much occupied deciding just which piece
of chicken he would take when he had the chance, and he was too delighted
to move when one of the boys began chasing all the others with his cup
full of water. And before he knew it, the boys trying to escape ran
straight into the bushes where Zip lay concealed and nearly stepped on
him.

One boy looked down, caught sight of a queer looking animal with bright
eyes and funny hair that stuck up all over him. He gave one scream and
jumped back just in time to get the full cup of water in his face. But he
cared not. He just turned and fled, screaming, "A porcupine! A porcupine!
Look out or he will fill you full of quills!"

This alarm made the girls jump up and run from their table of goodies in a
panic.

The lad who had thrown the water thought the other boy was merely fooling
when he peered into t