HICKORY HOG AND THE CHRISTMAS RASCAL, part 22

PART 22, December 22

Everyone ran outside as fast as they could. There they saw going up into the sky a rocket. There was another explosion and then another rocket soared aloft. They were like fourth of July fireworks rockets, only no fireworks came out of them once they were up. They just disappeared into the clouds.

"Over there," shouted Hickory Hog, pointing off in the woods. At that moment another rocket fired up into the atmosphere. "We've got to stop him!"

All the friends went as fast as they could. They were just in time to see the Christmas Rascal fire up another rocket. There on the ground beside him were six more ready to go.

Faster and faster they ran, jumped and flew. Then they were on top of him. He fought long and hard until Hickory sat on him and then that was the end of the matter. The Christmas Rascal was caught.

"Tie him up," directed Hickory at last. The little old man reached into his pocket and pulled out some cord he had there. Ever since they'd heard about the Christmas Rascal he'd taken to carrying something on him to tie him up should such an opportunity arise. The little old man had been in the navy, and so he knew all sorts of knots that could not be untied except by an expert hand. Soon they had the Christmas Rascal all trussed up and packaged to go.

"Now, let's take him to the lair," said Hickory. "We'll come back for these other things later."

It took a while to drag the rascal back to his lair, but at last they had him there. Then the interrogation began.

"Just where did you put all the other things you stole?"

"Oh, that's easy. I was getting ready to make a map to mail to you of my other lair, I thought it would give you something to do on Christmas day when there was no snow to make snowballs or snowmen with. After all, you're not going to be able to go sledding or skiing."

"And how do you know that?"

"Because I unseeded the clouds."

© 1989 Kevin Don Levellie