tumble off onto the ground?"

"That's a horse-power," Mrs. Squirrel explained. "The path the horses
are treading on moves, and that's why they stay right in the same
place. The path moves 'round and 'round all the time, like a broad
chain. That's what makes the wheels turn on the threshing-machine."

"It must be fun," said Frisky Squirrel. "I wish I could be a horse,
and make that horse-power turn like that."

"Nonsense!" said his mother. "You'd soon grow tired of it."

But Frisky Squirrel knew better.

[Illustration: Caught in the attic]

XIX

Frisky's Prison

Frisky Squirrel simply couldn't keep away from the field where the
wheat was being threshed. He was on hand before the men came in the
morning, and he was the last to leave the place at night. He ate all
his meals right on the spot, and went home only to sleep.

Now, it was not long before Johnnie Green spied Frisky Squirrel
loitering about the field. And he made up his mind that that young
squirrel was altogether too bold. So Johnnie Green rigged up a trap,
which he made from an old box, a few sticks, and a bit of string. And
one noon, while the men were eating their lunch under some trees a
little way from the threshing-machine, Frisky Squirrel was just
reckless enough to steal up and try to get his luncheon too, by eating
some of the wheat-kernels. He noticed a tempting little heap of
kernels, right beside a little box. And he had just stopped to eat
them when all at once the box toppled over on him, and there he
was--caught!

When Johnnie Green discovered that he had captured that young squirrel
he was just as glad as Frisky was sorry and frightened. That, you see,
is just the difference between _catching_ and _being caught_. It makes
a great difference whether you are outside the trap, or in it. And
Frisky Squirrel was in it. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't
get away.

He made up his mind that if anybody tried to lift him out of the box
he would bite him. But Johnnie Green had caught squirrels before. He
pulled on a pair of heavy gloves, and all Frisky's biting did no
good--or harm--at all.

When Johnnie reached home he put his prize into a neat little wire
cage. As soon as Frisky found himself inside it he looked all around,
to see if there wasn't some opening big enough to squeeze through. And
sure enough! there was a little door. And in a twinkling Frisky had
popped himself through it and had started to run.

He ran and r