Macaroon

75'

MACAROON JULIA CUNNINGHAM ILLUSTRATED BY EVALINE NESS

%

lacaroon, the raccoon ot tnis srory, aecfdes to adopt a child for the winter months, he

is

thinking, of course, of

cold nights outdoors and the comfort of a winter spent beside a hearth.

He

thinks too of

at the first sign of spring.

he will

how

The problem

select a disagreeable child

at all to forget as

But even the

Macaroon children,

whom

it

is

easily

will be

freedom

solved—

no trouble

soon as the season changes.

best-laid plans occasionally

loses his heart to this

who

to regain his

go amiss and

most disagreeable of

proves the most lovable after

all.

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%^^Julia

Cunningham

MACAROON ILLUSTRATED BY EVALINE NESS

AEP AMERJCAN EDUCATION PUBUCATIONS /A XERCW COMPANY Middtetown, Connecticut

^;;^•^S;:;»^^^;

Text

© 1962 by Julia Cunningham © 1962 by Evalinc Ness

Illustrations

Published by Pantheon Books, a Division of

Random House,

Inc.

Manufactured in

the U.S.A.

American Education Publications Pap>erback. Edition Published by arrangement with Pantheon Books, a Division of

I

2 3 4 5

Random

/

House, Inc.

75 74 73 72 71

'-i-r-m^M

With love from

all of

us

1

1 HE very moment the raccoon opened

knew est

it

was the day

to decide.

and green turning and found

it

leaves of rose

His nose

scarlet.

he

brilliant

oaks

and pale yellow

lifted to taste the

already cinnamoned with autumn,

already pungent with

damp

undersides of mushrooms. cate raccoon

his eyes

pines of his for-

gloomed dark against the almost

and maples hung with

air,

The

• f '#

earth smells like the

Even

the tips of his deli-

paws were no longer quite warm. 7

He had

a problem. If this year were Uke every

other year in his

life

wander toward the

would be easy enough

it

village

and simply wait

smiling child to catch him.

first

in a tree

was not

for him.

As

for the

A long winter

before,

to

sleep

he would allow

himself to be hugged and stroked and loved and

home

taken into the child's

where the his It

and

was no

snow

season,

by the hearth would soon be

best place

his

for the

meals delivered trick at all to

to

him

in a special saucer.

adopt a child. They liked

him.

But the

all

summer long

many

morning after

the raccoon

had thought of

children he had abandoned on the of spring,

him through

had heard

their voices crying

the freedom of his freshened,

newly greened woods, and he had, once or been forced so

to

first

twice,

hold his jaws tight between his fingers

he wouldn't answer them and become imprisoned

in their

world forever.

He had

been haunted by each

round, wide-eyed face and he hadn't enjoyed the feeling.

So

this

autumn

all

was

to be different.

"I'm very positively not going

to

spend

my

nights

holed up in a tree," he said to a very disinterested 8

.

field

^

mouse. "Nor

am

I

going

to give

up

the soft

rugs and the music in the evenings and the lovely,

sneezy smell of burning logs."

mouse. just

"Do you

not!"

He

glared at the

hear me.^" he said sternly. "I'm

^?7^^

The mouse

shyly

bowed himself out

hind a log and the raccoon was troubles.

A

left

of sight be-

alone with his

crow passed overhead and squawked

The

raccoon

did not reply, but the ugly sound had given

him an

something rude

Why

idea.

puzzled animal.

not adopt a child so disagreeable, so im-

possible, that

time came.f*

at the

he would be happy

He waved

to leave

when

the

his forelegs in the frosty air,

very pleased with himself, and then began to lope

slowly toward the edge of the forest. clever he was!

Ask

a raccoon

He

present before blinking.

dust out of his

tail

How

very

and the answer was

paused to whack the

between two rocks and then,

surveying the countryside,

now

filled

with barns and

houses and standing horses, he looked out of his bright

At ple at

brown

first all.

eyes for an impossible child.

there

was only the empty peace of no peo-

Then he glimpsed an oncoming

procession

of small children going toward the schoolhouse in

the distant village.

had felt

lived in their

a twinge of

He

recognized some of them.

rooms and

shame

slept in their beds.

at the sight of

posed, quite rightly, that they were

10

them and still

He He sup-

wondering

'M

R

•:.*.*

i

^'

~i^'-': -;

what had become

of their great friend the raccoon,

and missing him dreadfully. None of

do

\

these

would

He

always

at all.

A

lame fox crossed in front of him.

spoke to foxes because they were almost as intelligent as

he was.

"Good

fox," he said, "have

an impossible child .f^"

parts

The

fox halted just long enough to retort,

hungry. All

know

And

you ever met in these

human

"Fm

creatures are impossible. You'd

that for yourself

if

you liked chicken dinners."

he limped swiftly away, throwing back out of

the side of his bitter mouth, "Try the big

they don't even keep chickens."

house—

I

The

raccoon ignored the discourtesy of the fox

and, for lack of a better direction, began the three-

mile journey to the mansion whose wide iron gates

he could

just see atop the highest hill in the valley.

And,

he traveled, he began

as

odd fragments

no

difficult— and

smiled.

lived there,

was worth

that bordered

because the child

did truly remember, a

tumbled

And at the

once he had found a

bottom of the

though they had been thrown away it

few

though he had never seen her

in anyone else's house. pair of skates

Maybe

now he

a

had heard. There was

of gossip he

He

the mansion.

little girl

remember

dog within the stone walls

cat or

was

to

investigating,

and

his

hill,

as

in anger. Well,

hopes gave speed

to his legs.

He had no the

tall

sooner

come within peering view

drawing-room windows of the

four-storied,

was

turreted house than he realized that this

lucky hour. vast porch

"I

tell

A

his

sound of scolding knifed across the

from

inside.

you, Erika, you'll be the death of

You

refuse the cook's very best luncheon,

you

tell

me

of

me

and now

you're not going to take a nap.

14

yet!

I

can't

m

\

am

neither your

the porch

and pressed

punish you as you deserve because

I

father nor your mother."

The raccoon hopped onto

his right ear against the nearest

he could hear the other one. It

must be the

"A good

pane of

voice, a smaller

glass.

Now

and higher

child.

thing you're not!" and the tones were

even cranky enough to "I couldn't stand

suit the raccoon's purposes.

having them around

me

all

the

time."

He peeked in. There stood a very thin, tired-eyed woman in a gray silk dress yvith a white collar, and just in front of her, her face as

a spindling

purple as a plum,

little girl.

wonder," said the thin woman,

"I

who

the listen-

ing animal guessed must be the governess, and her voice like I

had

lost its

hard edges. "Well, you do

about the nap. But

I

am

as

you

going to take one and

expect you to preserve a decent silence."

He

saw the governess leave the room, and the

child begin to

tune of "I

The

hop up and down, thumpingly,

Went

to the

Animal

raccoon tapped on the i6

to the

Fair."

window

once, then

twice,

and

at last the brittle noise penetrated the

bump-blast of the song and dance.

The out.

front door clicked open

At her

first

and the child stepped

sight of the raccoon her face

plain white and pink again

became

and her eyes were mo-

mentarily startled.

"Who are you.'*" to

be disagreeable:

my

porch .f*"

she asked,

and then remembered

"And what

are you doing-

on

\

JM^

He

merely snarled at her.

For answer the

little girl

grunted to express her

extreme disgust.

He

clinked his teeth rapidly together.

The

child's

mouth changed

"Won't you come to allow

him

she said,

The

to pass.

to pull his ringed

was

in.^*'*

into a false smile.

moving

raccoon

knew

and he was well

tail,

to

one side

she wanted

content. This

a fine beginning to a difficult friendship, just

the kind he

wanted

for the winter,

one he would

never regret breaking off in the springtime.

He was

certain to

come within

hand, and as she grabbed for his

easy reach of her tail,

and captured the end of her thumb.

he nipped

He

at

held on,

being careful not to hurt her. !

"You rotten raccoon " she squealed. "Let

He

me go

!

obeyed, but not before he saw the purple seep

back into her cheeks.

Then he

stalked into the house

and looked about him. The depth of the rugs was quite satisfactory

and the

fireplace

was large enough

for twenty raccoons to take their repose in front of.

The

chairs

were

leather,

the tables polished

and

many

that

smelling of cleanness, and the lamps so

20

his peculiar preference for spotlights

would be well

indulged.

"You

act as

though you planned

to live here!"

shouted the child indignantly. "I do," stated the animal, speaking for the

"With your

time.

first

permission, of course," and he

grinned so wickedly that he saw the shadow of a

up the corners

smile quirk

dimples almost formed

"You "I

at

of the child's

each

side.

to you,"

he

replied, seating himself

hearth so that she would recognize

"To no one

else, so there's

no use

you have a talking raccoon causes curiosity

and bother."

"It's a secret,

you mean.f^"

not a

Two

talk, too," said the child.

do

He

lips.

it

as his place.

telling other people

in the house. It just

caught the glint of malice in her secret. If it

eyes.

were you would enjoy

simply to spite me.

know."

I

by the

He

"No,

telling

it

closed his eyes

comfortably.

"Don't you dare go

Minks

is

asleep but

doing, and

I

to sleep. That's

get bored

me." 22

when

what Miss everyone's

"

When

he did not respond, she

"Don't you want

what

know

to

if I

tried again.

have a name and

is?"

it

"Later," said the raccoon, the taste of his

power

over this weasel of a child as sweet as a sugar lump,

"Not later— now!" and she stamped both "It's

Erika."

"That's a good prickly name. not prickly at

"It's

"In that case

my

The eling.

all

as— as your fur

as soft

like

fur

I

I

It's

!

my mother's,

apologize.

Where

and

would be pleased

to

is she.f*

she's

Anyone

meet."

child hesitated. "I don't exactly

know. Trav-

She takes pictures of famous people and

to stay at

The

They

haven't

much

He

time

didn't wish to

or understanding spoil his pleasantly un-

relationship with this girl. If he did,

end

my

home."

raccoon opened his eyes.

let pity

happy

you."

It suits

!

father writes about them.

all

feet.

as the others had,

it

would

with regret and sorrow

at parting.

"Let's not talk about them," he suggested.

about a game.?"

23

"How

"What kind?"

said Erika, thoroughly ready for

mischief again.

"A

banister race.

Whoever

gets

down

in the least

time must give the other one a cookie. Macaroons, if

you have any. They're "I hate

macaroons— they

mouth, and "But,

silly

game."

called

so

favorites."

leave a bad taste in

my

do you." She squeezed her eyes into

come

slits.

The

my

on, you old macaroon.

raccoon shrugged.

Macaroon.

It

He

sdunded

For the next hour they

didn't

tasty

I'll

mind being

enough

swoopingly

slid

play your

to

him.

down

the

two-story banister, Erika carrying the raccoon on the

upward journeys because he could decide

who won,

so

going into the kitchen.

24

insisted it

ended

on

it.

Neither

in their both

©OL LIBRARY

^ The dress

woman

cook, a sour

much

stuffed into a

too small for her,

checked

was not delighted

to

admit a raccoon into her kitchen. But she was afraid of

Erika,

and with very bad

slammed down

The

raccoon

a jar of cookies

bowed

his

manners indeed

on the

table.

thanks to her, and the

cook's face relaxed.

Erika grabbed two handfuls of cookies and went into the hall.

Macaroon followed,

his

paws almost

as

crammed. "I always

Erika

wash before

made

eating," he announced.

a spitting noise with her tongue

and

pointed to the high staircase which led to the bath-

room. Macaroon reminded himself he was not here to

teach

humped

He

her

manners,

quite

himself up to the

the

opposite,

and

first floor.

didn't need to search long because the scent of

soap floated under the crack of a nearby door.

reached up the

full

knob, and walked

"Very

He

length of his body, turned the

in.

pretty," he said to himself,

admiring the

rose-sprinkled wallpaper, the shining whiteness of the bathtub,

and the

ivory bristles of a tiny brush

26

f^ I

dangling by the washbasin. In drifting tranquilly

with

warm

live

minutes he was

up and down the tub now

filled

water, the cookies piled carefully beside

the toothbrush.

27

Two

hours

after

later,

Macaroon

a solid nap,

emerged from what he now assumed was

and wandered downstairs. All was quiet wood-paneled entrance for

some

in the

raccoon listened

Erika so that he could go where

trace of

she wasn't.

The

hall.

room

his

was rather a nervous business trying

It

not to be friends with someone, like always being on

guard against

tigers in

Suddenly two his shoulders.

an open

field.

He yelled and leaped up

air that his tail

upon

giant claws descended

sets of

swept a lamp

off a

so

high in the

nearby

table.

Trembling, he took refuge under a couch and peeped cautiously out.

There stood Erika, laughing

that the bear rug in her

"Fooled you thought

I

that

was a savage

arms sagged

time!"

she

so

hard

to the floor.

shouted.

"You

beast, didn't you.^*"

Haughtily Macaroon ambled out from his hiding place

and began

to

smooth

his fur. "You're

worse

than a pestilence," he muttered. "If

you mean a

sponded Erika.

pest, that's just

"And now I'm having

in the formal dining room. It

what

I

am,"

re-

dinner served

You may come

too."

wasn't long before Macaroon realized the reason

28

/

for this lapse into graciousness, because all

the meal she pelted

him with

small objects like green

peas and bread crusts and, at the very shells.

And when

the cook

came

of course Erika let her think

through

it

last,

walnut

to collect the plates,

was

all

the raccoon's

fault.

The cook was

not pleased. "We'll see no more of

that filthy animal

"Why

by tomorrow," she threatened. know.^" snapped Erika.

not, I'd like to

"He's no

affair of yours.

"Is that right, missy

and she stalked back

This

waited.

house."

see, that's all!"

to her kitchen.

Who

at the

long bell-pull that

She yanked

the sideboard.

Macaroon

my

We'll just

.f^

With one hop Erika was hung by

is

would answer

it

five times.

this

arrogant

summons?

The door swung wide and "Can't

ness.

I

even have any peace

demanded. "You it

said

sight of the raccoon, is

who

to eat alone,

And now—"

eyed her firmly.

and

She caught

"What on

that doing in your father's chair .i^"

"An enemy him

at mealtime.'^" she

you preferred

has been a blessing to me.

earth

in rushed the gover-

to stay

of mine," retorted Erika. "I invited

with me."

30

" L

.

If.

.

•

'

"We'll see about that," said the tight-lipped Miss

Minks. "After tomorrow," she added portentously. Erika rooted herself directly in front of Miss

Minks, so

woman's

row tell

.f*

close that her nose almost

belt buckle.

"What

cook and

First the

now

is all

you.

I

brushed the

this

tall

about tomor-

command you

to

me!"

"No

need

to

command

anybody," said the gover-

ness with a twisted rise in her voice that

made Maca-

roon's back hairs prickle. "Your father

and mother

are returning in the morning,

and

they'll

soon put a

stop to your nonsense about harboring a woods-

creature in the house."

"That's not true!" said Erika, her hands clench-

ing and unclenching behind her back. "They want

me

to

I

need

perhaps

why

have everything

"And

that's

with cook and

me

for

to

keep

me happy

!

they leave you alone

most of the

year.?"

The

sneer

behind Miss Minks's words tempted Macaroon to nip holes in her stockings, but he remained motionless.

This wasn't

his battle or his concern,

and the

darker things got for Erika the better. She deserved it

as

payment

for her utter selfishness

perfect rudeness.

31

and absolutely

"You wait!" Erika was wait!

have them

I'll

"I think not,"

only one

weeks

At

who

fire

yelling

now. "You

you the very

first

just

thing!"

answered the governess. "I'm the

has stayed with you more than three

in five years."

this

Erika gave such a grating roar of rage that

Macaroon

slid

good move

it

under the

table for protection,

was, for suddenly the

room

and a

flashed

with a hail of plates and glasses that crashed haphazardly against the nearest obstacles.

Minks

seize

Then he saw Miss

Erika by the arms and drag the flurry of

kicking, writhing child out of the stairs.

<S^^

room and up

the

Macaroon

didn't wait for the arrival of the

he was getting out, back

paws did all

curl in

winter?

until

What

cramps if

to his forest. as

he

cook-

What

if

slept in his tree-hole

he did get thinner and thinner

he became a mere shadow of a raccoon?

amount

of comfort

was worth

this

his

No

and warmth and lamb chops

stormy, hating mockery of a home.

Well, he would just help himself to that charming

brush in the bathroom and be on his way.

34

"

As he dwindle

> vv

!

--

••

passed Erika's door he heard the shrieks to

an out-of-breath kind of panting that

hunted animals make when they have run too

far for

their strength.

This short pause was Macaroon's undoing. By the time the governess had gone

down

the

stairs,

never

seeing the deep darkness of the raccoon flattened

coming from behind

against the wall, the sound

Erika's closed door

had changed. Macaroon

tried

very hard not to listen, but his ears were as keen as

thorns and the sound crept

And even trip

back

in.

Erika was crying.

then Macaroon would not have broken his to the peace

and

mind hadn't recognized

chill of his forest if his

the difference between cry-

ing for anger and crying for sadness, and Erika's was all

sadness. Irritated

with himself, he gently turned the knob

of Erika's door

and went

in.

Erika took one look at Macaroon from her redlidded, tear-splashed eyes

Get out of here

The

and

spluttered,

"Get out

!

raccoon gazed at her solemnly, then closed

the door behind

him and walked 35

to the

window.

He

4

pried

it

up

through.

Now

just far

enough

The sobbing and

came

so that

he could squeeze

had

ceased.

and gulps and

throat-

the heaving

a series of sniffs

clearings.

He

balanced himself on the

window

sill,

and was

about to reach for the nearest branch of the tree just outside

when

"Where

are

a

choky voice stopped him.

you going .f""

Erika's as a lark's

"Back home,"

is

said the voice, as unlike

unlike a gull's.

said the raccoon,

and instead of

he scratched himself under

climbing into the

tree,

the chin where

didn't itch, just to give her

time.

it

more

"I'm going with you," said the

child,

and without

waiting for his consent, she hurriedly thrust on her heaviest sweater

and

tied a red scarf

"Nobody wants me,"

around her neck.

she continued, "so

I

don't

want anyix)dy."

"And how do you know

I

want you?" asked

Macaroon.

"Maybe you

don't, but

I'm coming with you any-

way."

Something warned the raccoon that instant to refuse, to

her

tell

this

was the

flatly that life in

the

winter forest was complicated enough without the

burden of dren.

He

tame

her.

this still

had a

choice.

and he

all

the sound that

the

And

stairs.

or

was

chose.

"I don't like the idea," he said,

along."

impossible chil-

He must abandon her

Then he remembered

sadness,

all

most impossible of

"but— well, come

without further delay he led the way to

"You'll be

hungry before night," he whis-

pered as they reached the front door. "You'd better

go get some food from the kitchen without the cook's

knowing

"Oh,

I'll

it."

get the food

all right," said

38

Erika.

"Cook

is

accustomed to doing what

The

I tell

her to do."

raccoon shook his head, doubting

again the

wisdom

all

over

of his choice, but he did not use

her absence to run away and leave her. In three minutes Erika, carrying a picnic basket loaded with

bread, cold chicken,

two

of

and

cheese, appeared,

them escaped unseen from

and the

the house

and

trotted together into the forest.

"Where

is

your house .f^" Erika said

they had walked

what seemed

finally, after

to be at least

two

miles.

"House

said the raccoon. "I live in a tree."

.f^"

"Oh,

a tree-house."

"No.

A

"Is

big enough for me,

it

hole in a tree." too.^*"

"Hardly."

"Then where

will

I sleep.^^"

Macaroon wished he didn't have because he didn't know. "We'll itself

when

the time

comes

let that

"I

this

this,

take care of

for sleeping,"

and wished he had had sense enough body

answer

to

to

he

replied,

adopt no-

autumn.

know.

I'll

find a

cave— the kind bears 39

live in."

>.:?'

Erika's idea of

how

where

their houses

tables

and

bears live

thought kept the mounting

For a while

chill of

night from pene-

But when they

a

cup

at last

of cocoa.

some supper,"

"Let's have

this

wanted was

arrived at the raccoon's oak tree, all she

and

book

cereal.

trating too far into her sweater.

a fireplace

a

were completely furnished with

and hot

chairs

had come out of

the child's nose crinkle in the

said

Macaroon, seeing

first

stage of a sneeze.

So Erika unlatched the basket, and they soon were

chewing hungrily

hunks

at

of bread with cheese

between.

Erika shivered twice. "You have fur," she com-

mented. "I haven't." "I'd lend you

some

of mine, but

raccoon, quite worried

to speak,

of tree-trunk

"Thought

made

when

can't," said the

now and determined

her to return to her house.

mouth

I

He had

just

to

opened

his

out of the deepening shadows

and underbrush limped the lame I

urge

fox.

smelled supper," said the fox, and he

a grab with bis teeth at something in the

basket.

Erika lunged at

him and smashed 40

the lid shut,

m

scraping the fox's nose hurtfuUy. "You can't have

any!" she shouted, her

own

face

more vixenish than

the fox's.

The

fox sat

five yards girl,

he

down on

his

haunches

and looked sorrowfully

at a distance of

at the raccoon, the

and the concealed chicken. "I'm very empty,"

said.

Then he looked

belong to people, don't

directly at Erika.

"You

you.''"

"Am I a person, you mean.^* Yes, of course. Why.f^" "I

thought

know how

so. Just like all

to share a chicken.

added, licking his lame

foot.

42

the others.

You don't

Or anything

else,"

he

Macaroon gave Erika

a steely signal with both

Erika was puzzled. She watched Macaroon

eyes.

carefully divide his bread

and hand one

tions

waved

"back

to

and cheese

two por-

into

the fox.

Imperiously she

bread

and cheese and

Macaroon's

dipped her hand into the basket and offered the fox a fat

brown chicken

But

"No

this

time the fox did not grab.

tricks.''"

"No

he

tricks,"

hand and

"Thank

leg.

said, his

He

hesitated.

nose quivering.

said Erika,

and stretched out her

the chicken.

you," said the fox, and he quietly ac-

cepted the leg and began to crunch the sweet and buttery meat.

By Only

the time the basket

was vacant

Erika's white skin

gleamed

and the

it

was

fox's

true dark.

tawny coat

a litde lighter than the blackened back-

ground of the woods. "I sometimes smell to

snow nowadays,"

said the fox,

make

conversation.

"Not

tonight, surely," said the raccoon, sitting as

close to

Erika as he could because he

was entering her bones. 43

knew

the cold

"No. But soon. Guess

Til be

But before he could say a coon had an

final good-night, the rac-

idea.

"Could you It

going along now."

Erika sleep in your den with you?

let

would be warmer than

nowhere."

just

"Certainly," said the fox, content to return the

favor of the chicken. "Follow me."

"I'm not going without Macaroon," said Erika, firmly.

Macaroon

stifled a

giant sigh

the procession of two. After

mind, for he loved

The

fox's earth

to

Erika could spot

was

it.

all,

trotted

he didn't

behind really

adventure through the night. just a

down and

he plunged

and

few yards

and

distant,

into the hole almost before

She wriggled

herself

through a

more

spa-

"It smells " she exclaimed, covering her nose

with

and then popped out

short tunnel cious

into a

underground dugout. !

one hand. "Naturally," said Macaroon, wishing for the hun-

dredth time he had not accepted the job of reforming this impossible child.

scent."

"Of musk and

He poked her in

delicious foxr

the ribs with one elbow

44

and

was

just

when

about to pinch her ankle

she got the

point.

she added hastily and breathed as

"It's lovely,"

shallowly as she could.

"Thank into a

you," said the fox, and he curled himself

round and closed

Erika was

his eyes.

silent for a

stretched full-length

few moments. Then she

on the warm earth and whis-

"Do you

pered in Macaroon's nearest ear, they've missed "I'd

"Want

guess

me at my they

go back

to

house

have,"

think

yet.'^"

answered

Macaroon.

now-f^"

!

"Never " hissed Erika. "The cook hates me, Miss

Minks

hates me,

and

so

do the other two."

Macaroon knew she meant her

father

and mother.

"I doubt that," he said as sturdily as a whisper

would

allow. "I don't. If they didn't,

back except

when

why

they feel like

It's

never because of me.

up

for Christmas. Is that

Macaroon had very

Why,

don't they ever

come

or are out of

jobs.f*

it

they didn't even turn

what you

call loving.^"

positive ideas

on

this subject,

but he didn't want to share them with this child

46

who

w-^

was

no

really

better off than

an orphan. "They are

coming tomorrow." "For reasons of

their

own. Oh, maybe

worried for a few days, but

later, a

week

will look at each other

might

'Remember when we used and the other

called Erika.^'

Wonder what

'Yes. Yes, I do.

"Well,

I'll

tell

you what

Macaroon. "Sleep."

and turned to the

and

his

to

is

or so from

have a child

answer and

ever befell

He waved

her.f^'

me,"

befalling his tail in

say,

" said

good-night

head in the direction of the entrance

den where the

wasn't,

will

be

and one of them

now, they say,

they'll

should have been fresher

air

and soon joined the fox in equal

dreaming. Erika had no other choice than to shut her eyes, but before she capsized into unconsciousness she

thought that just maybe she heard faraway shouts. It

was not

awake by coming

yet

dawn when

the raccoon

was

jolted

the sharp strike of the fox's paw. "They're !

!

They're coming " half-barked the fox.

Macaroon, quickened completely out of spoke back. "Who.^ Who's coming.^^"

"The dogs! They're coming 47

to get

me!"

sleep,

"Be quiet!" ordered Macaroon, and he with such concentration that to his

listened

ears, too, arrived

the distant, excited yelps of hounds. "But this isn't

hunting country!" he exclaimed.

"Used fox.

"He

to

be in

me.

told

on earth can

Macaroon she

came

"What

my

grandfather's time," said the

What

can

I do.'' I

am

lame.

What

I do.f^"

flicked his tail across Erika's face

alert

is it."^"

tered the den.

and

almost as quickly as an animal.

she said, aware that trouble

had en-

"The dogs are coming

to get

me

!

" said the fox, his

breath already shortened.

"Nonsense," said the

Nobody hunts around owns any

to catch

me

they're after.

nobody

here. In the first place

Then

riding horses."

same squeezed look going

girl. "It's

her face took on the

as the fox's.

me." She looked

"But they're not

at the fox

and the

raccoon and something in her eyes flowered for the first

time; she was asking a favor of someone else

and she didn't know how.

Macaroon glanced was

at the fox,

"We

will help you,"

he

me. You shared your food with

us.

in his triangular face.

said. "Especially

The

Now

fox shared his home.

raised his

arms over

parliament.

and the same answer

"Now

his

head

listen.

as

it's

my

turn."

He

though addressing a

The dogs have undoubt-

edly been given your scent, Erika, and in a few minutes they will arrive at the fox's earth." to the fox. "Just before they get here

above ground and show yourself. resist

chasing a fox.

Then you

No

pointed

you will go

dog could ever

will lead

away from here while Erika and

He

I

them

off

and

find another

hiding place. We'll have to break her scent, so that

49

means getting to the brook

in the

woods and wading

downstream. You must give us time enough for that."

the fox gallantly. "But

"I'll try," said

shake off the

"When

the people behind the dogs discover they

most fervently hope

"Stop hoping and raccoon. "Those

With

I

dogs.^*"

are chasing a fox, they'll call "I

how do

them

off."

so," said the fox.

running," instructed the

start

hounds are almost upon

a salute of his bushy

us."

the fox vanished

tail

from the den. Macaroon and Erika could hear a

tan-

gled confusion of yips and barks and scrambling as the dogs changed course.

were nearly

silent.

When

the upper regions

Macaroon nudged Erika.

"We

must go now," and they pushed themselves through the

burrow and regained the outer world.

mist obscured

all

but the nearest

trees.

luck," whispered the raccoon. "Pick tell

you where

to go. It will

A

thick

"We're

me up and

in I'll

be faster that way."

Erika grabbed the raccoon in her arms and began to race

toward the center of the

conspired to

make

forest.

Roots and ruts

her stumble, but she did not

50

.',>.

'-r^i -"

decrease her pace.

"Keep going!" encouraged mashed

raccoon, uncomfortably

bone but

resisting

die

against her collar-

any complaint. "The stream

is

only a few yards more."

And when

Erika finally reached the banks of the

narrow waterway she almost said

fell in.

"Put me down,"

"Now follow me." He half-paddled,

Macaroon.

half-walked through the rough rush of water^ Erika splashing behind him.

Once feet

the chorus of dogs whirled just a

away, but the fox

"How much

longer.f*"

freezing and I've cut

had them

still

my

hundred

in hand.

wheezed the

child.

"I'm

shins all over."

"See that oak ahead.''" spoke back the raccoon,

still

forging onward. "That's our refuge."

Erika couldn't see the oak because the fog was as dense as smoke, but she trusted the raccoon to know.

At

last

she saw

him clamber up

the steep

bank and

disappear behind a thicket.

She stepped upward, slipped on the damp mud,

and

slid

dery, she

back into the stream. Drenched and shud-

drew

herself upright again and, seizing the

long grasses that beckoned

52

at the top of the

shallow

iVl

^

I

^J\Sr

fftl

li

'y\^\t\'^U

mm

'mtmmmii

k\r V\T(i

ridge,

found herself

She

and yanked and heaved

hoisted

sat up.

flat

on her stomach on the wet ground.

"Macaroon, where are you?" she

flopped

she saw him,

down

Macaroon

called,

were near.

afraid to speak too loud in case the dogs

Then

she

until

and

against the tree,

tall

beside him.

didn't wait for her to catch her breath.

"I'm very worried," he said gravely.

"About me.?" "No, not about you. About the

game

leg

"What

and

fox.

He's got a

no longer young."

is

could happen to

You

him.f^

said that as

soon as they find out the dogs are chasing a fox they will call

them

off."

"That's what

I

said,

but I'm not at

all

sure

hap-

it's

pening that way." Macaroon's ears drooped and

paws churned nervously together of washing.

Then

his

paws

in the

stilled

his

movements

and he looked

at

Erika with such intensity and for so long that her cheeks began to redden. She

knew

the raccoon

was

waiting for her to say something and also that that

something must be

ment on

just the right thing, not a

com-

the weather or even a discussion of the prob-

54

"

lem. She tried to break

She

look, but she couldn't.

thoughts like the

winged

first

away from

deep

his deep,

tried not to think, but

approach of sky-borne birds

into her mind, flying so close she could

Why

almost hear the wind's flap on their feathers.

had she run away ? Because no one loved her and she was forced

to be cross all the time.

Why

cross.''

had she made

cook and Miss Minks.''

was?

How

was

Why

so

life

a torture for both the

Why

was she the way she

The word loomed

she.''

was she

like a

hawk

and pounced: impossible. Erika didn't

know why,

but suddenly she

felt like

crying, not for sadness but for another kind of feel-

ing that

made

her body strong and new.

cried.

"We

!

on " she

have

to find the fox

Just at that instant such a tempest of legs

and

snarls

and

tails

and barks whirled around them that

Erika was knocked scrabbled over

down

"Come

!

flat

on her back. The

and around

a very ragged,

her, intent

tawny

five

dogs

on bringing

specter of a fox.

She

raised herself half up, shoved into the center of the

furious

tangle,

and

encircled

within her arms.

55

the

exhausted fox

But what was the high,

Even

in her ears?

their violence. It

on

his

The

battle.

what

hind

tore a

war

the triumphant

cry that rang

hounds checked

was Macaroon, standing

legs, first

shrilling

straight

up

daring the five great beasts to do

one

hunk

who advanced

never even saw

from

The

of fur

his chest.

next

received a gash the length of his foreleg.

Erika,

and

set

still

holding the fox, scrambled to one side

him on

all

four

feet.

"Can you make

it

to

your den.^" she asked.

The

fox's

foam-splattered

word, "Yes," and he staggered Still

mouth formed one off into the mist.

the beleaguered raccoon held off the dogs,

thrusting swift as the blade of a sword at his nearest attackers. as

But Erika knew that surrounded

he was,

it

wouldn't be long before he

as tightly

fell

under

their jaws.

She ignored the cuts and bruises that splotched her hands and

whacked

legs,

at the

and picking up

a gnarled stick, she

dogs as hard as she could. But they

were too intent on the slaughter of one of their oldest enemies, and the circle around the raccoon shrank like the closing of a noose.

57

"

"Nobody's going

to hurt

Macaroon

!

" she shouted,

not caring for anything or anybody except the coura-

geous Httle animal whose right ear was

now

scarlet

with blood. "Nobody! Nobody!" She kicked her

way through ach, if

the dogs, seized

him around

and held him high over her head.

you want

to,

the stom-

"Now kill me

but you'll never get Macaroon

58

!

^^>>V\\^^

rf.-.

f^-

-CJ^.

Their prey removed from reaching distance, the dogs crouched and growled and paced, but did not touch the

girl.

bone seemed

Erika, so shaky inside that her back-

right through the pack

Twice she

walked

to be turning to clots of sand,

felt

and

started out of the forest.

the knick of teeth at her heels

and

once she heard her dress rip at the edges, but she continued to walk, slowly and steadily through the

Macaroon

umbrella above her.

like a furry

"Don't be afraid," she said to him through the

meadow

trees,

last barrier

as they passed

and

of tree-trunks

that led to her

house.

"We

into the

are going

home."

Macaroon

carefully said nothing,

entirely because she gripped

him

and

it

so tightly

the middle he could scarcely breathe.

wasn't

around

He was

proud of his adopted child there were no words

so

at all

to say, not ever.

They had no sooner gained sion than the dogs fell

the gates of the

away and

a small

man-

crowd

of

people poured toward them from around the corner of the house.

One was

Erika's mother.

Another was

her father. Even Miss Minks was there, sniffling into

60

a very wet handkerchief.

The others

stood back with

very trembly grins on their faces.

And

just before they

met, Erika halted and put

Macaroon on the ground. "Are you asked so no one

else

nodded and put

his left

Together they faced

could hear.

this

paw

all right-f^"

The

little

she

animal

into her right hand.

new problem

of people.

Two people, a man and

a

woman, walked forward

were within three

until they

They

the raccoon.

feet of the child

and

hesitated, looked uncertainly at

one another, and then the

woman

put out her hand

toward Erika as though she weren't sure she should touch

Macaroon

her.

around

his

the back of her give.

the

He

paw.

hand

felt

hand

Erika's

and brushed

raised his nose twice, trying to

tighten

her to for-

tell

She understood, and extended her

free

arm

to

woman.

Suddenly the child was enveloped in such a hugging and laughing and crying that Macaroon his all

paw from between three talking so

mixed and happy,

Then he knew had a family now, live with.

fast, their

that

it

her fingers.

was time

for

a family she

maybe

his fur

the sleep-drugged nights of

shrugged, and then he

so

Macaroon had

him

knew

He

they were

jumbled and to

laugh

to leave.

was ready

She wouldn't need him.

wryly. Well,

good one.

words

Now

slid

too.

Erika

to love

and

smiled a Uttle

would thicken during

snow and his winter

frost.

He

would be a

Just the thought of Erika, herself at last,

would keep him warm and comforted. 62

l-f'*'

He

quietly turned about-face

farewell to his friend.

the rest

all

lumped

and

said a silent

He would miss her, more

together,

and he knew

than

at that

very instant that he would never again adopt any-

one

else.

Erika was the

But before

his first step

swallowed the kissed

him

last

first

right

in his torn ear,

and the

was taken, before he even

gulp of loneliness, someone

on top

of his

head and whispered

"Macaroon, we're both home.

do you know what we'll do together

row morning

.f^

ful feast in the

best.

Fill a

thing tomor-

basket with the most wonder-

world and

invite the fox to share it."

Macaroon did not speak. straight into the

first

And

Instead,

he

smiled

wide happiness of her suddenly

lovely eyes.

63

y

V

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