They were sitting side by side on the Big Rock trying to push each other off into the Smiling Pool. Round, smiling red Mr. Sun made the Green Meadows very warm indeed, and Reddy Fox, over in the tall grass, heard them splashing and shouting and having such a good time that he wished he liked the nice cool water and could swim, too.

 

“I've thought of something!” cried Little Joe Otter.

 

“What is it?” asked Billy Mink.

 

Little Joe Otter just looked wise and said nothing.

 

“Something to eat?” asked Billy Mink.

 

“No,” said Little Joe Otter.

 

“I don't believe you've a thought of anything at all,” said Billy Mink.

 

“I have too!” said Little Joe Otter. “It's something to do.”

 

“What?” demanded Billy Mink.

 

Just then Little Joe Otter spied Jerry Muskrat⁵. “Hi, Jerry Muskrat! Come over here!” he called.

 

Jerry Muskrat swam across to the Big Rock and climbed up beside Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter.

 

“What are you fellows doing?” asked Jerry Muskrat.

 

“Having some fun,” said Billy Mink. “Little Joe Otter has thought of something to do, but I don't know what it is.”

 

“Let's make a slide,” cried Little Joe Otter.

 

“You show us how,” said Billy Mink.

 

So Little Joe Otter found a nice smooth place on the bank, and Billy Mink and Jerry Muskrat brought mud and helped him pat it down smooth until they had the loveliest slippery slide in the world. Then Little Joe Otter climbed up the bank to the top of the slippery slide and lay down flat on his stomach. Billy Mink gave a push and away he went down, down the slippery slide, splash into the Smiling Pool. Then Jerry Muskrat tried it and after him Billy Mink. Then all did it over again. Sometimes they went down the slippery slide on their backs, sometimes flat on their stomachs, sometimes head first, sometimes feet first. Oh such fun as they did have! Even Grandfather Frog came over and tried the slippery slide.

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