Free Bartleby of the Big Bad Bayou by Phyllis Shalant

searching for me, too? Or did they send you to catch me?”
    â€œNeither! Soon after you left, I snuck away from them. You have no idea how tiring it can get being ordered around by Old Stump and those other bullies. You and Seezer were so brave and clever—it was positively inspiring! Why, even Grub showed some gumption. Right away I knew I wanted to join you. But I got lost in these woods.”
    â€œHow do we know we can trust you?” Lucky Gal asked. Her head was up, but her voice was still shaky.
    â€œYes—at the bayou you were going to eat me,” Bartleby reminded him.
    â€œBut I’m not really like that. I was only doing Old Stump’s bidding. Won’t you give me a chance to show you?” Number Four wagged his tail like an overgrown dog.
    â€œYou weren’t going to give me a chance,” Bartleby retorted.
    â€œI can be better. Really! Please take me to Seezer and Grub.”
    â€œWhat makes you think they’d want you?” Bartleby scoffed.
    â€œWe don’t need any more gators in our swamp,” Lucky Gal added.
    â€œPerhaps not.” Number Four twitched his tail. The yellow band at its end flashed like a warning. “But if the dry spell comes, Old Stump and his guards will go on the hunt to find food. If they ever came here, I could help defend you. Three gators could keep you safer than two.”
    Bartleby had never known a dry spell, although he remembered Quickfoot mentioning it. He wondered if it was really going to happen. Then he thought about Old Stump’s huge, smelly jaws, and his cave full of “goodies.”
    â€œMaybe we should see what Seezer and Grub think,” he suggested.
    Lucky snapped the air with her jaws—but she didn’t protest.
    Bartleby tapped Number Four’s snout with a web. “My name is Bartleby. Don’t ever call me ‘Present’ again.”
    Â 
    â€œWell, this is a ssstinking sssurprise,” Seezer hissed from under the willow where he and Grub were floating. He gnashed his teeth as Number Four paddled in behind Bartleby and Lucky Gal.
    â€œWhat’s he doing here?” Grub swam up to Number Four and snapped his jaws. “You didn’t hurt my little bro’ did you?”
    â€œNo! I wouldn’t think of it. Bartleby is a hero.” Number Four stroked Grub’s back lightly with his tail. “I missed you, brother.”
    â€œUgh! Get off!” Grub backpaddled away from him.
    â€œHe ran away from Old Stump,” Bartleby explained. “He says he wants to join us.”
    Seezer struck the water with his tail. “You’re a ssscoundrel and a sssneak. Why ssshould we ssshare a sssingle fish with you?”
    Number Four hung his head. “Starvation can make any creature mean. But if you let me live here, I’ll change.”
    â€œYou’re just saying that so we’ll let you stay,” Grub accused.
    â€œNo—I mean it. I could be helpful.”
    With his snout, Seezer poked Number Four in the side. “What can you do to ssserve us?”
    â€œWhen a dry spell comes, Old Stump sometimes goes hunting. If he came here, an extra set of jaws could be useful. I’d help you fight him off.”
    â€œWho’s Old Stump?” Lucky Gal asked.
    â€œYou don’t want to know, little sis,” Grub whispered.
    â€œThe creatures of this ssswamp have my word and Grub’s that we won’t harm them,” Seezer said. “You must ssswear the sssame.”
    â€œI promise they can trust me, too. I’m really very gentle. I won’t eat much. Just a few fish.”
    â€œPhish! I don’t believe him,” Lucky Gal declared. “I think you should send him home.”
    â€œI’ll leave if you want. But it might be dangerous. If I go back to my bayou, Old Stump could force me to tell him where you are.” Number Four cast a sidelong glance at Seezer. “I wouldn’t be able to help it.