it would have crashed down and
crushed Pinkie Whiskers, had it not been for Billy Jay.

When Billy Jay saw what was happening, he did not say a word, just flew
like a streak and grabbed Pinkie Whiskers by his long tail and jerked
him out of the way. No, not entirely out of the way, for it was too late
for that, but far enough out of the way so that the tree trunk missed
him and he was only caught in the branches and covered with green
leaves.

"Oh! oh!" cried Twinkle.

"Oh! oh!" cried Winkle. "Our little brother will be killed. Oh! oh!"

They dropped the cap which was full of water and ran to the spot where
they had seen Pinkie Whiskers disappear.

Billy Jay came wriggling out and said, "Pinkie Whiskers is all right.
Just let him rest where he is for awhile. He is only tired out from
running and from fright."

"Yes, Billy Jay is right. We will let him rest and catch his breath,"
said Uncle Whiskers.

It was very hard for Winkle and Twinkle to accept this advice, but they
had been taught to obey their elders, so they only looked at one another
and stayed where they were.

CHAPTER V

Suddenly they heard a sweet, gentle voice calling, "Oh, please come
here, oh, please come here."

They all looked high and low, but they could see no one. Uncle Whiskers
cried, "Who are you and where are you? We hear you but we cannot see
you."

"I am the Tree-Fairy and I am right here in the stump of this tree,"
came the reply.

They all rushed over to the tree and, sure enough, there was the most
beautiful creature they had ever seen. She was lying on her back and her
wings were caught in the bark of the stump.

"Won't you please help me to free my wings," she begged.

"You must tell us how we can do it without tearing them," said Sammy
Woodchuck. "I fear that I am far too clumsy to touch them anyway."

Uncle Whiskers looked at the lovely, delicate wings and said, "I can
gnaw the bark away from them."

"Please let me help you," begged Winkle.

"And please let me help also," begged Twinkle. "My teeth are as sharp as
needles."

"My bill is very sharp and while you gnaw, I will pick the bark away. I
promise to be very careful," said Billy Jay.

So they all set to work and the Tree-Fairy smiled upon them. Her smile
was so full of love that each little animal felt his heart beat faster
and was even more eager to free her wings quickly.

"It is perfectly wonderful that Pinkie Whiskers did not cut you in two
whe