other!" counselled the mouse. "It doesn't matter whose fault it was; the talisman is gone, and we must get it again; that is the thing to think about."
"Get it again!" the bear was crosser than ever. "I'd like to know how that can be done! It has gone to the bottom of the river, thanks to the carelessness of the ape, and we can never recover it. Let us go to our homes; we have done enough for the man already to more than pay for his kindness to us."
"Yes, let us go home," agreed the ape. "There is no use trying to do anything if the bear has to chase every fish he meets, regardless of the importance of his mission. And we have done enough for the man as it is."
"Don't, don't talk like that!" cried the little mouse. "You both know as well as I that we can never repay the man's kindness to us! Come, let us plan! There must be a way!" She walked up and down
