the next day mr. red squirrel pretended to be sick. he would not run in the wheel or taste the food in his cage. when his master came to look at him, he moaned pitifully and would not move one leg. his master thought that the leg was broken, and took limp little mr. red squirrel in his hand to the window to see what was the matter. the window was up, and when he saw his chance, mr. red squirrel leaped into the open air and was away to the forest. his poor legs were weak from living in such a small cage, but how he ran! his heart thumped wildly under the soft fur of his chest, and his breath came in quick gasps, and still he ran, leaping, scrambling, and sometimes falling, but always nearer the great green trees of his birthplace.