<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</h2><h3 class="nobreak">BAD NEWS</h3>
<p><span class="smcap">When</span> Ready opened his eyes, he found
himself in the loveliest little bed in the
world. The animals by digging, gnawing,
and scratching had made a large hollow place
in the ground, and the birds had lined it with
feathers. Even the flowers had given some of
their leaves for the pillow.</p>
<p>You have no idea how comfortable it was.
The Eagle’s trained nurse was giving Ready
a teaspoonful of medicine every other minute.
A special dog doctor was taking his pulse, and
hundreds of birds were standing by waiting for
orders. Ready really felt very comfortable.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span></p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/image051.png" width-obs="500" height-obs="635" alt="" /></div>
<div class="caption"><p class="center">A special dog doctor was taking his pulse</p>
</div>
<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span></p>
<p>“He is better,” said the dog doctor, “but not
yet on his feet.” Of course that was quite true,
was it not?</p>
<p>“Is there anything you would like?” asked
the trained nurse.</p>
<p>Ready raised his head and said anxiously,
“May I still have my first wish granted, if I
ask for anything else?”</p>
<p>“Certainly,” said the Eagle.</p>
<p>“Certainly,” said all the others.</p>
<p>“I very much want something to eat,” said
Ready, falling back upon the pillows.</p>
<p>Such a commotion as there was then! Twenty
blue-birds at once brought in a tray of liver.
A course of bones followed, and a large dish of
milk was served for dessert. Ready was a very
happy dog indeed.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span></p>
<p>Then the Eagle said, “We will all have recess
and refreshments.”</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/image053.png" width-obs="400" height-obs="122" alt="" /></div>
<div class="caption"><p class="center">Twenty blue birds brought in a tray of liver</p>
</div>
<p>Now there was much moving about, eating,
and talking. Every one came up to Ready and
spoke to him. Many begged him to make
week-end visits. Some asked him to house
parties, and all the young dogs wanted his
photograph.</p>
<p>At last the Eagle raised his rod and every
one came to order. “We will now,” he said<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span>
in a businesslike manner, “try to find Master
Dick’s home at the seashore.”</p>
<p>Ready then told him all he knew about it,
which, of course, was very little. It was a red
house near the sea with a pine tree in front of it.</p>
<p>“That is quite enough,” said the Eagle, “I
will send out my messengers to find it.”</p>
<p>The Eagle now called together his trusty
messengers. There were five of them. A Blue
Heron for watchfulness; a Crow for good
judgment; a Swift for rapid flight; a Night
Hawk for keen eyesight; and a little Sparrow
for running the errands.</p>
<p>The Eagle talked to them all in a low tone for
a few minutes, giving them directions and
money for the journey.</p>
<p>Then the dance began, and who do you think<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span>
was Ready’s partner this time? Why, the Eagle
of course! It is a splendid thing to dance with
the King of Birds, and a rare thing for a dog.</p>
<p>It seemed to be dog night, for the Owl, who
had not danced for years, stepped out with a
dog. The Owl knew only one dance, an old-fashioned
hop waltz. The dog knew no dance
at all. He jostled about on his hind legs.</p>
<p>They really looked so ridiculous that some
gay young cat-birds laughed aloud, and called
out, “Toddle, toddle, don’t just waddle.”</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/image055.png" width-obs="400" height-obs="138" alt="" /></div>
<div class="caption"><p class="center">They were immediately cuffed by their elders</p>
</div>
<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span></p>
<p>They were immediately cuffed by their elders
for such bad manners, and made to sit out a
whole dance in the dressing room, which was
curtained off from the rest of the place by a row
of young pine trees.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/image056.png" width-obs="400" height-obs="226" alt="" /></div>
<div class="caption"><p class="center">Telegram for the Eagle</p>
</div>
<p>Suddenly the dance was interrupted by the
entrance of the young Sparrow, who had returned
with a telegram for the Eagle.</p>
<p>Everything stopped at once and the Eagle’s
grandson immediately flew to the top of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span>
great oak tree, where his honored grandfather’s
spectacles had been placed in an oriole’s nest
for safe-keeping.</p>
<p>He returned in twenty seconds and found
everybody waiting breathlessly.</p>
<p>The Eagle looked troubled after he had read
the telegram. Then he and the Owl whispered
silently together.</p>
<p>“Bad news,” cawed the crows.</p>
<p>“Bad news,” shrieked the blue jays.</p>
<p>“Bad news,” squeaked the field mice.</p>
<p>The noise was terrific, and the Eagle waved
his rod angrily, crying, “Silence!”</p>
<p>“We are having trouble with the moths, butterflies
and bats,” he continued sternly, hitting
at a restless young pullet.</p>
<p>“You remember, that once we asked them to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span>
join our gathering, but the bats behaved so
badly by bumping into everything that it broke
up the dancing.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/image058.png" width-obs="400" height-obs="145" alt="" /></div>
<div class="caption"><p class="center">“Bad news,” cawed the crows and shrieked the blue jays</p>
</div>
<p>“The moths also were too silly for words.
They almost stopped the orchestra by hitting
them all the time. As for the butterflies, they
went to bed as usual without even taking the
trouble to send regrets.”</p>
<p>“Shameful, shameful!” hissed everybody.</p>
<p>“And so,” continued the Eagle, “we have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span>
never given them another invitation.”</p>
<p>“Why should we?” sang a king bird shrilly.</p>
<p>“Why should we?” squeaked and piped,
barked and crowed, chirped and croaked, the
whole company.</p>
<p>“But,” the Eagle went on, waving his rod for
silence, “the bats did not like being left out, and
now they refuse to carry my messages over their
telegraph wires. They have formed a union
against us, and I can get nothing through to the
Sandpiper because it is over a wire which they
control. The telegram reads:</p>
<div class="blockquot">
<p>“REFUSE TO SEND SANDPIPER MESSAGE
UNLESS ADMITTED TO MEETING <SPAN name="edit1" id="edit1"><ins title="Original has “TONIGHT”">TO-NIGHT</ins></SPAN>.”</p>
</div>
<p>Of course no one understood a word of this
message except the Owl, who kept a Book of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span>
Knowledge in his nest and always brought it
with him in case it should be needed. He now
explained that the message meant that they
would not be able to get Ready back to Master
Dick unless the moths and bats were allowed
to come to the meeting that night.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/image060.png" width-obs="400" height-obs="288" alt="" /></div>
<div class="caption"><p class="center">The Owl kept a Book of Knowledge</p>
</div>
<p>He also explained that this telegram had been
written by the oldest Bat in the world, who, for
several years, had made his home in the attic of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span>
one of the offices of the Western Union Telegraph
Company. That is where he had learned
all the big words to put in telegrams, and also
that no self-respecting telegram could have
more than ten words in it.</p>
<p>The Owl explained this very clearly to everyone.
He even pointed out the words in the
telegram and they all counted them aloud: “1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.”</p>
<p>“Your Majesty, I think there is but one thing
to do,” said the Owl at last in a firm voice, “and
that is to grant them admittance to-night.”</p>
<p>“We will put it to a vote,” said the Eagle,
stepping up to his throne and rapping loudly
for order. Then he shouted, “All in favor of
getting Ready home by admitting these bats,
moths and butterflies, say ‘Aye.’”</p>
<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span></p>
<p>“Aye,” shouted everybody and everything.</p>
<p>Ready felt that he ought not to vote on such
a delicate matter, but he could not help wagging
his tail.</p>
<p>“Contrary ‘No,’” shrieked the Eagle.</p>
<p>Silence from everybody, for they were quite
used to public meetings now, and the wiser
birds and beasts always watched the foolish ones
and cuffed them if they made a sound.</p>
<p>“The motion is carried,” said the Eagle. “The
Owl will now send a telegram to admit them.
The message will reach the Sandpiper and all
will be right in ten minutes.”</p>
<p>The Owl, being a wise old bird, had the telegram
prepared beforehand. It said:</p>
<div class="blockquot">
<p>ACCEPT TERMS. SEND MESSAGE TO SANDPIPER
AND COME AT ONCE.</p>
</div>
<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span></p>
<p>If you will count, you will see that this telegram
has exactly ten words. Wasn’t that very
clever of the Owl?</p>
<p>The ten minutes passed very quickly, as everybody
was talking in little groups about telegrams.
Many tried to write them. You could
hear a group of young crows counting the
words, “Caw, caw, caw.”</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/image063.png" width-obs="400" height-obs="295" alt="" /></div>
<div class="caption"><p class="center">The oldest Bat in the world appeared</p>
</div>
<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span></p>
<p>Suddenly, without a word of warning, the
oldest Bat in the world appeared with four or
five foolish moth millers. Of course no butterflies
came.</p>
<p>The Bat flew immediately toward the Eagle
and almost knocked off his glasses. Then, after
running into the Owl, he batted about the dance
hall. The millers followed, trying hard to
imitate him.</p>
<p>The Bat next sat for a few moments on a
rooster’s back and then hit a swallow who was
flying across the floor. Finally, without a word
of good-bye he was off again, with the millers
flopping feebly after him.</p>
<p>Everybody was much relieved to have it all
over. Indeed, most of the lady birds and beasts
had been so frightened that they put their handkerchiefs<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>
over their heads.</p>
<p>The warblers started a song at once and soon
everybody joined in.</p>
<div class="poetry-container">
<div class="poetry">
<div class="stanza">
<div class="verse indent0">“Zee, Zee, Zee,</div>
<div class="verse indent0">Happy are we.</div>
<div class="verse indent0">Gone are the Bats,</div>
<div class="verse indent0">So remove your hats.”</div>
</div></div>
</div>
<p>The Eagle almost smiled as he announced:
“Now the plans are made for Ready’s departure.”
He did not even need to rap for silence,
for everybody was so interested.</p>
<p>“My trusty messengers have just telephoned
me that everything is all right,” the Eagle continued.
“They have stopped for refreshments
and rest at the Night Hawk’s house and will
return shortly.</p>
<p>“You must start at once with the Chipmunks,”
he said, looking most kindly at Ready, who<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span>
came and knelt before him. “Good running
will bring you to the end of the woods by dawn.
I have telegraphed ahead to have your breakfast
waiting for you under the last oak tree in the
woods.</p>
<p>“It is to be guarded by the Red Headed
Woodpecker, who has kindly consented to give
his services. Rest here a half hour, but no
longer.</p>
<p>“Then the Swallows will show you the way
to the beach. They have promised to fly low so
that you will not lose them.</p>
<p>“About noon, you will meet a Field Mouse.
If she says, ‘Ready,’ you will follow her to a
place where your dinner will be hidden. There
you will meet the Sandpiper, who will take you
along the beach until you come to an inlet.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span></p>
<p>“You must go the rest of the way alone, as
the Heron, who was to take you, has appendicitis.
The road, however is straight ahead
and will take you to your master’s home.”</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/image067.png" width-obs="400" height-obs="331" alt="" /></div>
<div class="caption"><p class="center">The Chipmunks were putting on their overcoats</p>
</div>
<p>Ready bowed low before the Eagle, barking
his thanks again and again, while the Chipmunks
were putting on their overcoats for the
journey.</p>
<p>Some one called out “Speech, speech,” but
the Eagle put a stop to that by saying that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span>
Ready needed to save his strength for the journey.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/image068.png" width-obs="400" height-obs="257" alt="" /></div>
<div class="caption"><p class="center">An old Frog gave Ready the queerest thing</p>
</div>
<p>Just then an old Frog hopped up and gave
Ready the queerest thing. You could never
guess what it was—<i>a hot-water bag</i>!</p>
<p>She said in a croaking voice, “I have never
really been warm in my life, but a hot water
bag has been a great comfort to me, and has
kept me next door to warm.”</p>
<p>There was nothing for Ready to do without<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span>
hurting this old Frog’s feelings, but to accept
the bag with thanks. Yet he wondered how he
could ever carry such an awkward thing. However,
the trained nurse kindly fastened it to his
collar and then he started off with the Chipmunks.</p>
<p>They heard the animals cheering and calling
“Good luck to Ready!” long after they were
out of sight.</p>
<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span></p>
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