Page:Poor Cecco - 1925.djvu/178



RESENTLY Poor Cecco felt some one nudging him. It was Jensina, who had crept softly round from the other side of the tree.

“Listen,” she whispered. “Listen, I have an idea!”

“What is it?” Poor Cecco whispered back.

Jensina, standing there on tiptoe, looked strangely excited. Her eyes shone in the moonlight.

“You know the rats? Do you remember what the Iron Grenadier said? Oh, Poor Cecco, suppose we get the rats to gnaw the tree and let Tubby out?”

“Jensina!” he exclaimed. “It’s wonderful! But they could never gnaw this tree through!”

“Rats can do anything,” Jensina said.

“They aren’t here.”

“They are. Sh-sh! I never told you, but Gladys saw them. The Easter Chicken told me. They are sitting on the front porch.”

“Have you got the Tooth?”

“It’s here,” said Jensina. “I didn’t dare leave it in the house.” She showed him the mysterious object, in its