Happy Jack and Chatterer were out of breath . Happy Jack was puffing and blowing , for he is big and fat , and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller , slim , nimble cousin , Chatterer . So Happy Jack was the first to stop . He sat on a branch ` way up in the top of the tall hickory tree and glared across at Chatterer , who sat on a branch on the other side of the tall tree . `` Could n't catch me , could you , smarty ? '' taunted Chatterer . `` You just wait until I do ! I 'll make you sorry you ever came near my hickory tree , '' snapped Happy Jack . `` I 'm waiting . Besides , it is n't your tree any more than it 's mine , '' replied Chatterer , and made a face at Happy Jack . Happy Jack hopped up as if he meant to begin the chase again , but he had a pain in his side from running so hard and so long , and so he sat down again . Right down in his heart Happy Jack knew that Chatterer was right , that the tree did n't belong to him any more than to his cousin . But when he thought of all those big , fat nuts with which the tall hickory tree had been loaded , greedy thoughts chased out all thoughts of right and he said to himself again , as he had said when he first saw his cousin , that Chatterer should n't have one of them . He stopped scolding long enough to steal a look at them , and then -- what do you think Happy Jack did ? Why , he gave such a jump of surprise that he nearly lost his balance . Not a nut was to be seen ! Happy Jack blinked . Then , he rubbed his eyes and looked again . He could n't see a nut anywhere ! There were the husks in which the nuts had grown big and fat until they were ripe , but now every husk was empty .
Chatterer saw the queer look XXXXX Happy Jack 's face , and he looked too .
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