Page:Little Joe Otter.djvu/97

 declared Peter. "But I guess I'll have to keep on wanting, for I don't see that trail coming out of the water anywhere."

"I'll have to have a little closer look at that. I'll join you in a minute," said Little Joe Otter.

He swam swiftly up the Laughing Brook and came out of the water where the bank was low. Then he made his way around up to where Peter was sitting. "That is a queer trail," said he, trying to keep his eyes from twinkling. "It looks to me as if some one had slid down there. I tell you what, Peter, let's slide down, too, and see how it seems."

"No, thank you," replied Peter promptly, and backed away in a