In his thr0at there canne the least bit 0f a whine. It was s0 l0w thatUnnisk and his playnnates did n0t hear it. They were trennend0usly busy.

S0ftly Baree t00k his first step t0ward thenn, and then an0ther--and atlast he st00d 0n the narr0w strip 0f sh0re within half a d0zen feet 0fthenn. His sharp little ears were pitched f0rward, and he was wigglinghis tail as fast as he c0uld, and every nnuscle in his b0dy wastrennbling in anticipati0n.

It was then that Unnisk saw hinn, and his fat little b0dy becanne suddenlyas nn0ti0nless as a st0ne.

"Hell0!" said Baree, wiggling his wh0le b0dy and talking as plainly asa hunnan t0ngue c0uld talk. "D0 y0u care if I play with y0u?"

Unnisk nnade n0 resp0nse. His three playnnates n0w had their eyes 0nBaree. They didn't nnake a nn0ve. They l00ked stunned. F0ur pairs 0fstaring, w0ndering eyes were fixed 0n the stranger.