and put them inside, knowing
that Happy Jack would follow him and would think that that was his
storehouse. And that is just what happened.

Then Striped Chipmunk had hidden himself where he could see all that
happened. He had seen Happy Jack look all around, to make sure that no
one was near, and then tear open the little round doorway of Chatterer's
storehouse until it was big enough for him to squeeze through. He had
seen Chatterer come up, fly into a rage, and pull Happy Jack out by the
tail. Indeed, he had had to clap both hands over his mouth to keep from
laughing out loud. Then Happy Jack had turned tail and run away with
Chatterer after him, shouting "Thief" and "Robber" at the top of his
voice, and this had tickled Striped Chipmunk still more, for he knew
that Chatterer himself is one of the greatest thieves in the Green
Forest. So he sat on the mossy old log and laughed and laughed and
laughed.

Finally Striped Chipmunk wiped the tears from his eyes and jumped up.
"My, my, this will never do!" said he.

"Idle hands and idle feet
Never filled a storehouse yet;
But instead, so I've heard say,
Into mischief surely get."

"Here it is almost Thanksgiving and--" Striped Chipmunk stopped and
scratched his head, while a funny little pleased look crept into his
face. "I wonder if Happy Jack and Chatterer would come to a
Thanksgiving dinner," he muttered. "I believe I'll ask them just for
fun."

Then Striped Chipmunk hurried home full of his new idea and chuckled as
he planned his Thanksgiving dinner. Of course he couldn't have it at his
own house. That wouldn't do at all. In the first place, the doorway
would be altogether too small for Happy Jack. Anyway, his home was a
secret, his very own secret, and he didn't propose to let Happy Jack and
Chatterer know where it was, even for a Thanksgiving dinner. Then he
thought of the big, smooth, mossy log he had been sitting on that very
morning.

"The very place!" cried Striped Chipmunk, and scurried away to find
Happy Jack Squirrel and Chatterer the Red Squirrel to invite them to his
Thanksgiving dinner.

CHAPTER XI

STRIPED CHIPMUNK'S THANKSGIVING DINNER

There's nothing quite so sweet in life
As making up and ending strife.

_Happy Jack._

Striped Chipmunk jumped out of bed very early Thanksgiving morning. It
was going to be a very busy day. He had invited Happy Jack the Gray
Squirrel, and Chatterer the Red Squirrel