ughs of the locusts, and, putting the camp
stools in a ring, they sat down, to see how solemn they could be. But it
was no use; though they pinched up their mouths, and frowned, and did
their best to look like a company of highly respectable owls, in two
minutes they all burst out laughing, so nearly together that nobody
could tell who had begun.

As soon as the broad faces had come back to their proper length, there
was a general cry for a story; and as Peter had instituted the new
regulation, he undertook to carry it out; so, drawing a long breath to
start with, he commenced:

"Once upon a time, there lived a family of bears in a thick wood.
Grumpy-growly, the father, was a jolly, cross old fellow--oh! I guess he
was! and the little ones didn't dare so much as to snap at a fly without
permission, when he was around.

"One day Grumpy-growly went out to take a walk, bidding the young ones
to be very good while he was away; for he was a widower, poor fellow!
and had to see after his family himself.

"As soon as he was fairly gone, Longclawse, the eldest, said, 'Seems to
me, brothers, we have stood this long enough. All the other cubs in the
wood can run about as they please, and why should we be kept in this
poky old cave? Suppose we try to get away the big log before the door?'
for this was what Grumpy-growly put up to keep them at home.

"'Good! I go in for that!' cried Bushyball, Titehugge, and Stubtail, the
other cubs.

"So first they tried to poke their noses under the log, but the plaguy
old thing wouldn't stir. Then they turned their backs against it, and
all kicked together with their hind legs, and presently away it went, to
the great delight of the four bears, who didn't trouble themselves to
put it back again, but just packed up their carpet bags, and cut stick,
I tell you."

Here Peter opened his eyes and mouth very wide, and ran out his tongue
for a moment to get an airing, a proceeding which he frequently repeated
during the story. Then he went on:

"They had a jolly time climbing trees, rolling on the soft grass, and
playing with the other bears they met; but at last Titehugge and
Stubtail, the youngest, declared they were too tired to go another step,
and must take a little nap. Longclawse and Bushyball thought they would
go off to see the election, which they had been told was to take place
that very day, and the others, promising not to stir from the spot
without them, curled themselves up int