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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/24589-h.zip b/24589-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1f8ef31 --- /dev/null +++ b/24589-h.zip diff --git a/24589-h/24589-h.htm b/24589-h/24589-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5dd74e5 --- /dev/null +++ b/24589-h/24589-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3602 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Tale of Benny Badger, by Arthur Scott Bailey. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + .blockquot2 {margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify;} + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .right {text-align: right;} + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} +table.backcover {width: 650px; text-align: center; background-image: + url("images/backcover.jpg"); background-repeat: no-repeat;} + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .poem {margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: left;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Tale of Benny Badger, by Arthur Scott Bailey + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Tale of Benny Badger + +Author: Arthur Scott Bailey + +Illustrator: Harry L. Smith + +Release Date: February 13, 2008 [EBook #24589] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF BENNY BADGER *** + + + + +Produced by Joe Longo, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 379px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="379" height="600" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 531px;"> +<img src="images/frontendpapers1.jpg" width="531" height="800" alt="Front endpapers left" title="Front endpapers left" /> +</div> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 520px;"> +<img src="images/frontendpapers2.jpg" width="520" height="800" alt="Front endpapers right" title="Front endpapers right" /> +</div> +<h1>THE TALE OF<br /> +BENNY BADGER</h1> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='bbox'> +<div class='center'><i>SLEEPY-TIME TALES</i><br /> +(Trademark Registered)<br /> +<br /> +<small>BY</small><br /> +ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY<br /> +<br /> +<small>AUTHOR OF</small><br /> +<i>TUCK-ME-IN TALES</i><br /> + +<small>(Trademark Registered)</small><br /> +<br /> +———————<br /><br /></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Sleepy-time Tales"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Tale of Cuffy Bear</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Tale of Frisky Squirrel</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Tale of Tommy Fox</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Tale of Fatty Coon</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Tale of Billy Woodchuck</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Tale of Jimmy Rabbit</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Tale of Peter Mink</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Tale of Sandy Chipmunk</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Tale of Brownie Beaver</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Tale of Paddy Muskrat</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Tale of Ferdinand Frog</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Tale of Dickie Deer Mouse</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Tale of Timothy Turtle</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Tale of Major Monkey</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Tale of Benny Badger</span></td></tr> +</table></div> +</div><hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 276px;"> +<img src="images/illus-front.jpg" width="276" height="400" alt="Benny doesn't like Mr. Coyote's singing." title="Benny doesn't like Mr. Coyote's singing." /> +<span class="caption">Benny doesn't like Mr. Coyote's singing.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><i>SLEEPY-TIME TALES</i></h2> +<div class='center'>(Trademark Registered)</div> + + +<h1>THE TALE OF<br /> +BENNY<br /> +BADGER</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY</h2> + +<div class='center'> +Author of<br /> +"TUCK-ME-IN TALES"<br /> +(Trademark Registered)<br /> +<br /> +<small>ILLUSTRATED BY</small><br /> +HARRY L. SMITH<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +NEW YORK<br /> +GROSSET & DUNLAP<br /> +PUBLISHERS<br /> +<small>Made in the United States of America</small><br /> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='center'> +<small><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1919, by</span></small><br /> +<small><span class="smcap">GROSSET & DUNLAP</span></small><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 141px;"> +<img src="images/spine.jpg" width="141" height="140" alt="Spine" title="Spine" /> +</div> +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><small>CHAPTER</small></td><td align='left'><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Great Digger</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Hunting for Something</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">No One at Home</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_12">12</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mr. Coyote Sings</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Speaking of Ground Squirrels</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Strange Partners</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mr. Coyote Remembers</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Watcher and a Worker</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Careless Helper</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_42">42</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Sore Paw</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_47">47</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Birds' Eggs</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_51">51</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Prairie Chicken</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Don't Do That</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Queer Discovery</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_67">67</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Benny and the Owl</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Spoiling a Game</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Prairie Dog Village</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Saving the Day</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Pleasant Praise</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_90">90</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Rancher Is Angry</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The New Home</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXII </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Breakfast Invitation</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIII </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mr. Deer Mouse Is Timid</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE TALE OF<br /> +BENNY BADGER</h2><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>I</h2> + +<h3>A GREAT DIGGER</h3> + + +<p>Of course, Benny Badger had the best +of reasons for living on the high, dry +plains. There he had for neighbors +plenty of ground squirrels and prairie +dogs. And it is likely that he enjoyed +their company much more than they did +his.</p> + +<p>If anyone had asked them, those little +wild people would no doubt have confessed +that they wished Benny Badger +was somewhere else. But their wishes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +meant nothing to Benny—if he knew anything +of them. Although he couldn't help +noticing that his small neighbors hurried +into their homes whenever they caught +sight of him, Benny never took the hint +and went away. On the contrary, when +he spied a prairie dog or a ground squirrel +disappearing into his burrow Benny +was more than ready to go right in after +him.</p> + +<p>Now, the tunnels that led to the houses +of those smaller folk were too small to +admit anybody as bulky as Benny Badger. +But that difficulty never hindered +Benny. Digging was the easiest thing he +did. He had a powerful body, short, +stout legs, and big feet, which bore long, +strong claws. And when he started to dig +his way into somebody else's home he certainly +did make the dirt fly.</p> + +<p>He was so fond of digging that he even<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +dug countless holes of his own, just for +the fun it gave him—so far as anybody +could find out. And if he had only left +other folk's holes alone some of his neighbors +would not have objected to his favorite +sport. For more than one fox and +coyote had been known to make his home +in a hole dug by Benny Badger. And, +though they never took the trouble to +thank him for saving them work, they often +chuckled about his odd way of having +fun, and remarked among themselves that +Benny must be a stupid fellow.</p> + +<p>If they really thought that, they made +a great mistake. To be sure, at anything +except digging he was slow and awkward. +He was too heavy and squat to be spry +on his feet—to chase and catch his more +nimble neighbors. But no one that knew +much about Benny Badger would have +said that his wits were dull. They were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +sharp. And so, too, were his teeth, which +he never hesitated to use in a fight.</p> + +<p>Left alone, Benny Badger—when he +wasn't too hungry—was a peaceable person. +But if a dog ever tried to worry +him Benny had a most unpleasant way of +seizing his annoyer with his powerful +jaws and holding the poor creature as if +he never intended to let him go.</p> + +<p>Cornered, Benny knew no such thing as +fear. He had the heart of a lion, and jaws +like a steel trap. And no wise dog ever +let Benny get a good, firm grip on him.</p> + +<p>Usually no one saw Benny Badger except +at night. He seldom left his den in +the daytime except to sun himself. And +even then not many noticed him. Though +he did not hide when anyone surprised +him while taking a sun-bath, he had a +trick of lying flat in the grass without +moving. And it took a sharp eye to spy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +him when he lay low in that fashion.</p> + +<p>Curled up asleep, with his long fur on +end, he looked too comfortable to disturb. +At least, that was what the ground squirrels +thought. And if one of those busy +little fellows ever paused to stare curiously +at Benny when he was having a nap in +the warm sunshine, Benny Badger had +only to awake and turn his head toward +the onlooker to make him scamper for +home as fast as he could go.</p> + +<p>It was not Benny's face, either, that +frightened the ground squirrels away, +though everybody had to admit that he +had a queer one. A black patch spread +over his eyes and ran like the point of a +V down his nose. For the most part, however, +he was of a grayish color, with still +more black running in streaks across his +back. Underneath he was a—yes! a dirty +white color. But then, one must remem<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span>ber +that he was forever digging in the +dirt; and there was very little water +where he lived. Anyhow, he was particular +enough about one thing: his long +hair was always carefully parted in the +middle from his head to his tail.</p> + +<p>And certainly that ought to show that +he tried to keep himself looking neat.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>II</h2> + +<h3>HUNTING FOR SOMETHING</h3> + + +<p>It was a pleasant summer's night. Anyone +would have supposed that it was just +the sort of weather that Benny Badger +might have chosen for digging holes. But +he must have thought that he had dug +enough holes for the time being. He wandered +about as if he had lost a hole somewhere +and couldn't find it. And whenever +he spied a hole made by one of his +smaller neighbors he stopped and looked +at it closely.</p> + +<p>But none of them seemed to be the one +he was looking for. At least, Benny examined +a good many holes, and then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +passed on again, before he came to one at +last that was different from all the rest. +If you could have seen the look of pleasure +on Benny's odd face when he caught +sight of this particular hole you would +have known at once that his search had +come to an end.</p> + +<p>Now, as a matter of fact, Benny Badger +had not lost a hole. His strange behavior +did not mean that. It meant that +he was searching for a <i>fresh</i> hole, which +some ground squirrel had dug so short a +time before that there couldn't be much +doubt that the small owner was then +living in it.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 274px;"> +<img src="images/illus-1.jpg" width="274" height="400" alt="Mr. Ground Squirrel Escapes from Benny." title="Mr. Ground Squirrel Escapes from Benny." /> +<span class="caption">Mr. Ground Squirrel Escapes from Benny.</span> +</div> + +<p>To be sure, Benny might have dug his +way to the furthest end of each hole that +he found that night. And doubtless he +would have enjoyed such a pastime. But +as for finding a plump ground squirrel at +the end of every tunnel—ah! that would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +have been a different matter. No such +pleasant sight would have greeted Benny's +eyes. And on this evening he wanted +to find some such reward when his digging +came to an end.</p> + +<p>He knew as well as he knew anything in +the world that newly scattered earth never +lay strewn about the doorway of an <i>old</i> +hole.</p> + +<p>And that was the reason he passed by +so many holes with hardly more than a +swift glance.</p> + +<p>But when at length he found what he +had been looking for—a hole with fresh +brown dirt scattered carelessly around it—Benny +Badger showed by every one of +his actions that he didn't intend to move +on until he had burrowed to the very end +of it.</p> + +<p>A broad smile lighted up his queerly +marked face. At least, he opened his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +mouth and showed a good many of his +teeth. And a bright, eager glint came into +his eyes; whereas they had had a somewhat +wistful look before, as if their owner +might have been hungry, and didn't exactly +know where he was going to find a +meal.</p> + +<p>Then Benny Badger looked all around, +to see whether anybody might be watching +him. But there was no one in sight. +And if there had been, Benny Badger +would have done no more than tell him +that he had better run along about his +business, because it would do him no good +to wait—none at all.</p> + +<p>And if the onlooker had happened to +come so near as to bother Benny in what +he intended to do, that unfortunate person +might have wished that he had taken a +bit of friendly advice in time, and made +himself scarce.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<p>But, of course, Benny Badger was not +so foolish as to give any such warning, +for there was no one there to hear it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>III</h2> + +<h3>NO ONE AT HOME</h3> + + +<p>Since there seemed to be nobody lurking +in the shadows around him, and watching +him, Benny Badger turned to the +ground squirrel's hole and began to dig. +How he did make the dirt fly! He scooped +it up with his big feet and flung it back in +a shower, not caring in the least where it +fell. For he was interested not in what +lay behind, but before him.</p> + +<p>In almost less time than it takes to tell +about it, Benny Badger had made the entrance +of the tunnel so big that it swallowed +his head and shoulders.</p> + +<p>Now, when some people do anything<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +they are forever stopping to see how +much they have finished, as if they hated +to work and wished that they didn't have +to. But Benny Badger was not like them. +He loved to dig. And instead of wishing +that it wasn't far to the ground squirrel's +chamber he kept hoping that it was a +good, long tunnel, so that he might have +plenty of fun digging his way to the end +of it.</p> + +<p><i>He</i> didn't pause to look back at the pile +of dirt he had thrown behind him. In +fact, he didn't stop for anything—not +even to take a long breath—until he noticed +a sound that made him pause and +listen for a few moments.</p> + +<p>It was a yapping, growling noise that +caught Benny Badger's ear—a noise that +changed, while he listened, to a howl, and +then suddenly ended as it had begun.</p> + +<p>That call, coming as it did out of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +night, would have frightened many +people. Not knowing just what it was, +they might have thought it sounded like +the cry of a wolf. But Benny Badger +showed not the least sign of fear. On the +contrary, he seemed almost angry with +himself because he had stopped even for +a few moments to listen.</p> + +<p>"Oh, fudge!" he said—or something +a good deal like that. "It's nothing but +a Coyote."</p> + +<p>And then he went to digging faster +than ever, to make up for lost time.</p> + +<p>He hadn't been working long after that +when Mr. Coyote's call made him back out +of the hole and listen once more.</p> + +<p>"Shucks!" said Benny Badger—or +something like that, anyhow. "He's coming +this way."</p> + +<p>Anyone could have seen that Benny +Badger was not pleased. But he contin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>ued +his work just the same. And he made +the dirt fly even more furiously than before, +because he wanted to reach the end +of the ground squirrel's tunnel before Mr. +Coyote arrived on the scene.</p> + +<p>It happened that Mr. Coyote was stalking +slowly across the country in the moonlight, +headed for no place in particular. +So Benny Badger had time to burrow his +way to the ground squirrel's bedroom +without being interrupted.</p> + +<p>And then Benny met with a sad disappointment. +The owner of the burrow was +not at home! Benny knew that he could +not have been gone long, because the bed +of dried grasses was still warm.</p> + +<p>It was plain that Mr. Ground Squirrel +had awakened and heard the sound of +Benny Badger's digging. And there was +no doubt that he had sprung up in a hurry +and rushed out of his back door, while<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +Benny made his way through the front +one.</p> + +<p>Benny Badger tried to console himself +with the thought that anyhow he had had +the fun of digging. But he was very +hungry. And there was no supper in +sight anywhere.</p> + +<p>He was just about to renew his search +for fresh ground squirrels' holes, when +who should appear but Mr. Coyote himself, +with a knowing smile upon his narrow +face.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>IV</h2> + +<h3>MR. COYOTE SINGS</h3> + + +<p>Benny Badger was not at all glad to see +Mr. Coyote. And after Benny's ill luck, +the smile upon Mr. Coyote's face made +the disappointed digger feel almost peevish.</p> + +<p>"What a beautiful evening it is!" said +Mr. Coyote. "And what a fine night for +digging!"</p> + +<p>Benny Badger glared at the newcomer, +making no attempt to hide his displeasure +at seeing him.</p> + +<p>"I don't notice <i>you</i> doing any digging," +he remarked with a sneer. He had +no use for Mr. Coyote, and he did not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +mind letting that tricky fellow know it, +either.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Coyote was not one to take a +hint. If he knew he wasn't wanted anywhere, +it never made the slightest difference +to him. And when Benny as much +as told him that he was <i>too lazy</i> to dig a +hole, Mr. Coyote did not lose his temper +even for a moment.</p> + +<p>"No—I seldom dig," he replied. "I +don't want to spoil your fun. If I went +to work and dug and dug anywhere +and everywhere there'd soon be nothing +but holes, no matter where you went. +You'd have no place to dig a hole yourself. +And then you'd be pretty unhappy."</p> + +<p>Benny Badger hadn't thought of that. +And he didn't know just what to say, because +if Mr. Coyote meant what he said, +Benny wanted to say something <i>pleasant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span>;</i> +and if Mr. Coyote was only joking, Benny +wanted to say something disagreeable. +But before Benny had made up his mind +how to reply to Mr. Coyote's remark, his +noisy friend began talking again.</p> + +<p>"Besides," Mr. Coyote added, "I +haven't time for digging, because I have +to practice singing.... If you don't +mind, I'll practice a song right now."</p> + +<p>And without waiting to find out whether +Benny Badger did mind or not, Mr. +Coyote began singing in the harshest of +voices:</p> + + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">The Coyote's Song</span></div> + +<div class='poem'> +When Mr. Sun has gone to bed to seek his needed rest,<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">And Mr. Moon has climbed the skies to flood the plains with light,</span><br /> +And Mrs. Wind blows softly from the foothills in the west,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I love to sing my <i>yip-ky, oodle-doodle</i> in the night.</span><br /> +<br /> +When morning comes I hurry home, to take my daily nap;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">But when the spooky shadows fall and all the world is dark,</span><br /> +Oh! then's the time I'm wide awake and ready with a <i>yap</i>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A happy, yappy <i>yip-ky, oodle-doodle</i>, and a bark.</span><br /> +<br /> +And none that hears my lovely voice, when startled from a dream,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Will soon forget how I begin my chorus with a growl;</span><br /> +Nor how I quickly run the scale, to end it with a scream,<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">A happy, yappy <i>yip-ky, oodle-doodle</i>, and a howl.</span><br /> +<br /> +Let them that do not know my ways cry fearfully for help,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And shake and shiver when they hear my loud and lusty call;</span><br /> +While I will merely jeer at them with something like a yelp,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A happy, yappy <i>yip-ky, oodle-doodle</i>, and a squall.</span><br /> +<br /> +And now I will explain to you—perhaps you've guessed before<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The lesson that I always strive with might and main to teach—</span><br /> +If you would frighten timid folk, alarm them with a roar,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A happy, yappy, <i>yip-ky, oodle-doodle</i>, and a screech.</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>"How do you like that?" Mr. Coyote +asked with a grin, when he had finished.</p> + +<p>"Not very well!" said Benny Badger.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Coyote looked just the least bit +crestfallen.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I haven't practiced the song +as much as I should," he remarked. And +thereupon he started to sing it again.</p> + +<p>But Benny Badger stopped him +quickly.</p> + +<p>"Don't!" he cried. And he held his +paws, dirty as they were, over his ears, as +if he couldn't bear to hear that song another +time.</p> + +<p>Mr. Coyote smiled agreeably.</p> + +<p>"I see," he said easily. "You don't enjoy +music as I do. But I believe we have +one taste in common."</p> + +<p>"What's that?" Benny Badger asked +him; for in spite of his paws being over +his ears, he heard what Mr. Coyote said. +"What's that?"</p> + +<p>"Ground Squirrels!" Mr. Coyote replied, +licking his chops as he spoke.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>V</h2> + +<h3>SPEAKING OF GROUND +SQUIRRELS</h3> + + +<p>Benny Badger stared none too pleasantly +at Mr. Coyote. He didn't like his visitor. +And he wished Mr. Coyote would go +away.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Coyote seemed to be in no +hurry to leave. On the contrary, he appeared +to have plenty of time to spare. +And if he noticed the frown on Benny +Badger's face, he certainly acted as if it +were the most agreeable of smiles.</p> + +<p>"We were speaking of Ground Squirrels——" +he began with a smirk.</p> + +<p>Benny Badger interrupted him quickly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We were not!" he snapped. "I +haven't <i>mentioned</i> Ground Squirrels," he +growled.</p> + +<p>Mr. Coyote fell back a few steps.</p> + +<p>"Well, I know you're <i>interested</i> in +them, anyhow," he continued, trying to +act as if he were quite unruffled by Benny's +rudeness. "You can't deny that, +for unless I'm mistaken, you've just +caught one here." And his bright eyes +twinkled, for he thought he "had" Benny +Badger there, and it would be of no use +for Benny to deny it.</p> + +<p>"You are mistaken," Benny Badger +grunted.</p> + +<p>At that Mr. Coyote shot a swift look at +him. Was that a shadow of disappointment +about Benny's mouth?</p> + +<p>"Did he get away from you?" Mr. +Coyote inquired.</p> + +<p>Benny Badger had to admit that that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +was exactly the case. He explained how +he had found the Ground Squirrel's bed +warm, but empty, when he reached the +snug bedroom.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how it happened," he told +Mr. Coyote mournfully.</p> + +<p>That crafty fellow gave a short laugh. +He rather believed he knew where the +trouble lay. And he said to himself—under +his breath—that Benny Badger was +even more stupid than he had supposed.</p> + +<p>"Did you keep an eye on the Ground +Squirrel's back door?" he inquired. And +he was so amused by something or other +that he began to giggle.</p> + +<p>Benny Badger was afraid that Mr. +Coyote was going to burst into song +again. And he couldn't help shuddering.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to sing?" he asked +hastily.</p> + +<p>"I hadn't intended to," Mr. Coyote an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>swered. +"But of course if you want me +to——"</p> + +<p>"No! no!" Benny cried. "Please +don't!"</p> + +<p>"Very well!" his musical friend replied. +And then he returned to his question. +"What about the back door? Did +you watch it carefully?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"How could I?" Benny demanded, +with a snort of anger. "I can't dig away +at a Ground Squirrel's hole, with my head +buried in it, and watch his back door at +the same time. If I stopped digging, and +went around to the back door, he'd be almost +sure to run out through the front +one. So I'd be no better off. In fact, I'd +be worse off; for I'd lose not only the +Ground Squirrel, but the fun of digging, +too."</p> + +<p>Mr. Coyote turned his head away and +smiled a wide, wide smile. It was some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +moments before he could trust himself to +speak without laughing right in Benny +Badger's face.</p> + +<p>"It's plain," he said at last, "that you +need help. So I'm coming here every +night to assist you in the business of +catching Ground Squirrels."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>VI</h2> + +<h3>STRANGE PARTNERS</h3> + + +<p>Mr. Coyote's plan for helping him catch +Ground Squirrels did not please Benny +Badger in the least. Up to that time he +had always had fair luck hunting alone. +And he said as much to Mr. Coyote, in +none too friendly a tone.</p> + +<p>Though Benny thought he had made +his feelings plain enough, it seemed as if +Mr. Coyote couldn't take a hint. So far +was he from guessing that Benny did not +care for his scheme that he even suggested +that it might be a good idea if he brought +a half dozen of his brothers along with +him. He was very cheerful about the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +whole affair—was Mr. Coyote. Indeed, +he appeared quite ready to arrange +Benny Badger's business, without ever a +"By your leave," or "If you don't mind."</p> + +<p>But Benny Badger was no person to +stand quietly by and let a scamp like Mr. +Coyote spoil his whole life. He shook his +head in a most obstinate fashion, giving +his visitor fair warning not to go too far.</p> + +<p>"For goodness' sake, don't bring any +of your brothers here!" Benny Badger +shouted. "I never could stand a crowd +of your relations. It's bad enough to +have to listen to your six brothers when +they're half a mile away."</p> + +<p>Mr. Coyote took no offence at that remark.</p> + +<p>"Very well!" he replied. "No doubt +they'd want to sing if they came here to +help you. And certainly their singing +would interfere with your digging—for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +of course you'd want to stop and listen to +it."</p> + +<p>Benny Badger's only comment sounded +somewhat like "Humph!" But Mr. +Coyote must have thought that Benny +agreed with him. At least, he nodded his +head. And he went on to say that he +would be glad to help Benny alone, without +calling on his brothers.</p> + +<p>Benny Badger made no further objection. +To be sure, having one of the Coyote +family with him every night would be bad +enough. But it was so much better than +having seven of them that he began to feel +almost pleased. Perhaps he was lucky, +after all! And besides, he thought that +when Mr. Coyote came to help him catch +Ground Squirrels that good-for-nothing +scamp would soon tire of digging.</p> + +<p>And then a terrible uproar broke the +silence. It sounded as if a hundred<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +wolves—or maybe a thousand dogs—had +fallen to quarreling a mile away, growling +and howling in the distance.</p> + +<p>As soon as he heard the noise Mr. +Coyote pricked up his ears and sprang to +his feet. "I must leave you now," he +said. "There are my six brothers! They're +going to have a sing. And I promised that +I'd join them.... Don't forget!" he +added, as he flung a sly smile in Benny +Badger's direction. "I'll be here soon +after dark to-morrow night."</p> + +<p>And the next moment he was gone.</p> + +<p>Benny Badger stood and watched him +as he loped off across the moonlit plain. +And not long afterward a terrific racket—twice +as loud as the one before—made +Benny bury his head in the place where +he had been digging.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Coyote has joined his six brothers," +he said to himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>VII</h2> + +<h3>MR. COYOTE REMEMBERS</h3> + + +<p>The next evening, just at dusk, Benny +Badger left his den and set forth on his +usual nightly ramble.</p> + +<p>By way of exercise, and for the sake of +the fun it gave him, and to improve his appetite, +he dug a few holes. And by the +time it was dark he was hungry as a bear +and ready to look once more for fresh +holes made by Ground Squirrels.</p> + +<p>He had decided not to wait for Mr. +Coyote to join him, before beginning his +search. And he even hoped that Mr. +Coyote had forgotten all about his promise +to meet him and help him hunt.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Benny Badger was to have no such +good fortune as that. It was not long before +he heard Mr. Coyote calling to him. +And though he made no answer, thinking +that Mr. Coyote might not be able to find +him, in a few minutes that sharp-faced +gentleman came bounding up at top +speed.</p> + +<p>"Here I am!" he cried, as soon as he +spied Benny Badger. "I see you started +out without waiting for me. You didn't +think I'd disappoint you, did you?"</p> + +<p>"I was afraid you wouldn't," Benny +answered—a remark that Mr. Coyote +seemed not to understand. For a moment +or two he looked somewhat puzzled. But +he decided, evidently, that Benny <i>meant</i> +to be pleasant, but didn't know how to +be.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," Mr. Coyote said, while +Benny Badger shuddered at his harsh<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +voice, "now then, where <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'you do'">do you</ins> think we'd +better look for a hole?"</p> + +<p>"For pity's sake, don't howl so loud!" +Benny Badger besought him. "You'll +waken all the Ground Squirrels in the +neighborhood if you're so noisy."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me!" said Mr. Coyote very +meekly, lowering his voice, but promptly +raising it again. "Do you know of any +fresh holes around here?"</p> + +<p>Benny Badger said that he didn't.</p> + +<p>"Then you'd better hunt for one at +once," Mr. Coyote declared, sitting down +on his haunches as if he hadn't the slightest +notion of doing any of the searching +himself. "While you're looking, I'll sing +a little song," he announced.</p> + +<p>"You needn't trouble yourself to do +that," Benny Badger told him hastily.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's no trouble at all, I assure +you," Mr. Coyote replied.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well—don't you do it, anyhow," +Benny warned him. "If you sing, you'll +spoil everything, because I shall not be +able to look for any hole."</p> + +<p>"I see," said Mr. Coyote, looking more +than pleased. "You'd want to stop and +listen to me, of course."</p> + +<p>"It's not that," Benny Badger corrected +him. "I may as well tell you that +I don't like your songs at all."</p> + +<p>"I have some that you've never heard," +Mr. Coyote explained.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to hear them," Benny +Badger informed him. "I may as well +tell you that your songs drive me almost +crazy."</p> + +<p>It would not have been surprising if +Mr. Coyote had flown into a great rage. +But he did not. Instead, he pretended to +wipe a tear away from each of his eyes. +"It's a pity"—he sighed—"it's a pity<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +that you don't understand music. Some +time I will teach you to sing—with the +help of my six brothers."</p> + +<p>Benny Badger showed no joy over that +promise. But he felt relieved when Mr. +Coyote agreed not to sing that night. And +then Benny set out alone to look for a +fresh Ground Squirrel's hole, leaving Mr. +Coyote with his face hidden in his pocket-handkerchief.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>VIII</h2> + +<h3>A WATCHER AND A WORKER</h3> + + +<p>Benny Badger searched for some time before +he found a Ground Squirrel's hole +that looked as if its owner had finished it +only a day or two before.</p> + +<p>The place was so far from the spot +where Benny had left Mr. Coyote that he +did not believe he could call loudly enough +for his helper to hear him.</p> + +<p>For a few moments Benny thought +that perhaps he ought to go back and tell +Mr. Coyote that he had found a good place +to dig. But he soon changed his mind.</p> + +<p>"I'll just begin digging and say nothing," +he remarked to himself. "And per<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span>haps +I can catch this Ground Squirrel +without Mr. Coyote's help."</p> + +<p>So he set to work. But he hadn't dug +very far into the hole before he heard Mr. +Coyote's voice close behind him. That +sly fellow had been following him all the +time.</p> + +<p>"I hope the owner of this hole is at +home," Mr. Coyote ventured.</p> + +<p>At those words Benny Badger backed +out of the hole and turned around.</p> + +<p>"I'll let you dig a while," he said generously.</p> + +<p>Mr. Coyote thanked him. But he answered +that he couldn't think of accepting +Benny Badger's offer.</p> + +<p>"I know you would be disappointed not +to do the digging yourself," he explained. +"And besides, you're a better digger than +I am. So I'll let you tear this tunnel +open, while I go around to the back door<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +and watch.... You know, I have a very +sharp eye."</p> + +<p>Benny Badger looked at Mr. Coyote +narrowly. It occurred to him that <i>both</i> +Mr. Coyote's eyes were very sharp. Furthermore, +his nose was sharp, too. And +so were his teeth. Yes! on the whole, +Benny thought, Mr. Coyote appeared to +be an exceedingly sharp person.</p> + +<p>"Very well!" Benny told him at last. +"I'll do the digging, gladly—for I need +the practice that it will give me. You +see, I haven't dug more than a half-dozen +holes to-night."</p> + +<p>Then he thrust his head into the opening +he had already made. But before he +had begun to throw more dirt behind him +he pulled his head out again and called to +his helper, who had moved a few steps +away.</p> + +<p>"If the Ground Squirrel comes out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +through his back door, please call me at +once!" he cried.</p> + +<p>Mr. Coyote nodded his head over his +shoulder and smiled.</p> + +<p>"I will," he agreed. "And I'll ask you +not to forget to dig hard, because you +know I'll be watching hard. And it +wouldn't be fair for one of us to do less +work than the other."</p> + +<p>Benny Badger replied that in his opinion +Mr. Coyote's statement was in every +way reasonable.</p> + +<p>And then he began to dig.</p> + +<p>Benny would have made better time had +he not stopped every few minutes to listen; +for he did not want to miss hearing +Mr. Coyote's call.</p> + +<p>But his ears caught nothing more than +a chuckle from the spot where Mr. Coyote +sat on his haunches in the grass, watching.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I can stand his chuckling—if only he +won't sing!" Benny said to himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>IX</h2> + +<h3>A CARELESS HELPER</h3> + + +<p>Stopping often to listen, Benny Badger +did not reach the Ground Squirrel's chamber +half as quickly as he could have had +he done nothing but dig.</p> + +<p>And when he thrust his nose into the +underground bedroom he found nobody +at home. The Ground Squirrel had fled, +leaving his nest so warm that Benny Badger +knew he could not have been gone +long.</p> + +<p>Benny turned away. But he was not +so disappointed as he might have been, +for he remembered that Mr. Coyote was +watching the back door. And certainly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +no Ground Squirrel could escape his sharp +eyes.</p> + +<p>Hurrying as fast as his short legs would +carry him, Benny joined Mr. Coyote, who +still sat comfortably on his haunches.</p> + +<p>To Benny's surprise, his helper's eyes +were closed, instead of being fixed on the +Ground Squirrel's back door.</p> + +<p>"Have you seen anything of the Ground +Squirrel?" Benny demanded anxiously.</p> + +<p>Mr. Coyote started, and opened his +eyes.</p> + +<p>"Somebody came out a few moments +ago," he replied. "But he disappeared +in no time."</p> + +<p>"That's too bad!" Benny Badger +wailed. "He got away!"</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?" Mr. Coyote inquired.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes!" Benny cried. "It's as +plain as the nose on your face."</p> + +<p>"I won't dispute you," said Mr. Coyote.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You'd better not!" Benny Badger +snapped. "You have been very careless. +I don't believe you watched carefully +enough. When I came up just now you +had your eyes shut."</p> + +<p>"I won't dispute you," said Mr. Coyote +again. He was most polite—so polite, in +fact, that Benny Badger was ashamed to +appear rude or quarrelsome.</p> + +<p>But Benny couldn't help being disappointed +over losing the Ground Squirrel. +And when, after he had dug to the end of +three more tunnels that night, the same +accident happened three times more, he +decided that something would have to be +done. It was clear that Mr. Coyote's eyes +were not sharp enough. He was not +nearly so helpful as Benny had expected +him to be. "We'll have to change about," +Benny announced at last. "You must +dig, while I watch."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Mr. Coyote promptly made a number +of objections to that plan. He said, +with something quite like a sneer, that he +had much sharper eyes than any member +of the Badger family that ever lived, and +that he was quicker than a hundred Badgers +put together. And as if he hadn't +given reasons enough for disagreeing with +Benny, he declared that he simply +couldn't do any digging that night because +he had a sore paw.</p> + +<p>To prove his statement, Mr. Coyote +held up one of his paws for Benny to see.</p> + +<p>Benny looked at it. He couldn't discover +that it was any different from Mr. +Coyote's three remaining paws. And he +had just started to say so, too, when Mr. +Coyote interrupted him with an enormous +yawn.</p> + +<p>"I'm getting sleepy," Mr. Coyote remarked. +"It will be daylight before we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +know it. And I'm going home to take a +nap."</p> + +<p>So saying, he sprang up and stretched +himself. And then he trotted off. But +he stopped before he had gone far and +looked back at Benny Badger.</p> + +<p>"I'll be on hand to help you again after +sunset," he said.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>X</h2> + +<h3>THE SORE PAW</h3> + + +<p>Sure enough! Just as Mr. Coyote had +promised, he was on hand the next night +to "help" Benny Badger catch Ground +Squirrels.</p> + +<p>Benny regarded Mr. Coyote somewhat +coldly, as the two met in the moonlight.</p> + +<p>"How's your sore paw?" he asked Mr. +Coyote.</p> + +<p>Now, Mr. Coyote had just come trotting +up without the least sign of lameness. But +all at once he began to limp.</p> + +<p>"My poor paw's no better," he told +Benny, as a look of pain crossed his face.</p> + +<p>"Let me see it!" Benny said.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> + +<p>And Mr. Coyote promptly held out one +of his paws.</p> + +<p>Benny Badger snorted. He seemed +quite disgusted.</p> + +<p>"This is not the same paw you showed +me last night," he cried.</p> + +<p>"My mistake!" said Mr. Coyote easily. +And he pulled back that paw and thrust +forth another.</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 277px;"> +<img src="images/illus-3.jpg" width="277" height="400" alt="Benny Seized Mr. Coyote's Paw." title="Benny Seized Mr. Coyote's Paw." /> +<span class="caption">Benny Seized Mr. Coyote's Paw.</span> +</div> +<p>Benny Badger bent over it for a moment.</p> + +<p>"It <i>looks</i> all right," he grumbled.</p> + +<p>"I can't help that," Mr. Coyote snarled. +"It couldn't hurt me any more, no matter +what happened to it."</p> + +<p>To Mr. Coyote's surprise, Benny Badger +seized his paw in his powerful jaws +and held it in a viselike grip.</p> + +<p>"Ouch!" Mr. Coyote wailed, pulling +back quickly—a move which only caused +him greater pain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Your paw doesn't feel any worse, does +it?" Benny Badger asked him as well as +he could, with his mouth so full.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it does!" Mr. Coyote howled.</p> + +<p>"Then you must have been mistaken +when you said what you did only a moment +ago," Benny told him.</p> + +<p>"I must have been," Mr. Coyote admitted.... +"Let me go!" he begged.</p> + +<p>But Benny Badger's jaws only closed +the tighter.</p> + +<p>"I'll bite you if you don't stop that!" +Mr. Coyote threatened.</p> + +<p>"My skin is very, very tough," Benny +said. "And I can hurt you much more +than this if I want to."</p> + +<p>Mr. Coyote believed what Benny told +him. So he made no more threats, but began +to whine piteously.</p> + +<p>"If you'll let me go I'll do anything +you say," he promised.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Will you agree to keep away from +me?" Benny Badger asked him.</p> + +<p>"Yes! Yes!" Mr. Coyote cried. "I +promise!"</p> + +<p>"Good!" said Benny Badger. "I don't +need your 'help,' as you call it, any longer. +And if you ever come near me again +when I'm hunting for Ground Squirrels, +I'll——"</p> + +<p>Benny Badger never finished what he +was saying, because he let go of Mr. +Coyote just then. And the moment Mr. +Coyote felt himself free he leaped away +and tore off on three legs as if he were +in a terrible hurry to get somewhere +else.</p> + +<p>"Much help I'd ever get from him!" +Benny Badger grumbled to himself. +"He's too lazy to dig. But he isn't too +lazy to grab the Ground Squirrels that +somebody else drives out for him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>XI</h2> + +<h3>BIRDS' EGGS</h3> + + +<p>Though Benny Badger never cared much +for foxes, he was willing, usually, to stop +and talk with one of that family—provided +he wasn't too busy digging to take +the time for gossip.</p> + +<p>There was one fox who often strolled +about the neighborhood. And though +Benny had many a chat with this gentleman, +somehow Benny never learned much +from him.</p> + +<p>He was so sly that he let Benny do most +of the talking, while he listened. And +when he did say anything, he preferred +to ask questions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> + +<p>In time Benny Badger noticed that his +chats with Mr. Fox were very one-sided. +And he made up his mind at last that +when he next met that crafty fellow he +would ask him plenty of questions. He +would make him talk, or he would know +the reason why.</p> + +<p>It happened that early on the following +morning, when he was hunting for +Ground Squirrel's holes, he found himself +face to face with Mr. Fox. And Benny +noticed that Mr. Fox was himself looking +with great interest at a fresh Ground +Squirrel's hole. "Hullo!" Benny Badger +exclaimed. "I hope you haven't come +here after Ground Squirrels."</p> + +<p>Mr. Fox looked much surprised.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed!" he said. "I'm only +hunting for birds' eggs."</p> + +<p>"Birds' eggs!" Benny Badger repeated. +"Have you found any?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Fox squirmed a bit. He did not like +to answer questions.</p> + +<p>"Have you found any eggs?" Benny +asked him again.</p> + +<p>"A few!" Mr. Fox replied.</p> + +<p>"Where?" Benny inquired.</p> + +<p>"Oh, in different places," said Mr. +Fox. And he began to talk about the +weather—how dry it was, and how much +the country needed rain.</p> + +<p>But Benny Badger was not to be fooled +so easily.</p> + +<p>"You haven't really answered my question," +Benny reminded Mr. Fox bluntly. +"I asked you where you've been finding +birds' eggs. And I'll thank you to tell +me, sir."</p> + +<p>Mr. Fox gave a slight start. Benny's +tone was none too pleasant. And Mr. +Fox certainly didn't want to quarrel with +him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If you wish to know anything about +birds' eggs, why don't you ask a Prairie +Chicken?" he inquired. "She would +know a great deal more about eggs than I +do."</p> + +<p>To Benny, that suggestion seemed quite +worth while. There was no doubt that +what Mr. Fox said was true. And Benny +wondered why he hadn't thought of the +plan himself.</p> + +<p>"Your advice," he told Mr. Fox, "is so +good that I'm going to start right now to +look for a Prairie Chicken. It's almost +dawn now. And the Chickens will soon +be getting up."</p> + +<p>So Benny said good-by. And Mr. Fox +tried to say good-by, too; but somehow he +choked over the words, and began to cough +so violently that Benny Badger was quite +alarmed.</p> + +<p>He waited anxiously until he saw that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +Mr. Fox was out of danger. And then he +left him.</p> + +<p>If he had looked back he might have +seen his sly friend capering about in the +gray light as if something amused him +hugely. And no doubt Benny would have +wondered what it could have been.</p> + +<p>"Prairie Chickens!" Mr. Fox was +chuckling. "Much they'll tell <i>him</i> about +eggs!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>XII</h2> + +<h3>THE PRAIRIE CHICKEN</h3> + + +<p>After he left Mr. Fox, Benny Badger +hurried here and there and everywhere in +search of a <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'pairie'">prairie</ins> chicken.</p> + +<p>He found one, after a time. But the +lady wouldn't stop to talk with him. The +moment she spied Benny she <i>whirred</i> into +the air and flew off, though she certainly +must have heard him calling to her.</p> + +<p>But at last, just as red streaks began +to shoot up in the eastern sky, Benny +caught sight of a stately dame who was so +busy catching grasshoppers for her breakfast +that she hadn't noticed him.</p> + +<p>He did not dare go too near her, for fear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +of scaring her. So he called to her in as +gentle a tone as he could, saying, "Don't +be alarmed, madam! I only want to ask +you a question."</p> + +<p>The prairie chicken stretched her neck +as high as she was able, and looked all +around.</p> + +<p>"Here I am!" Benny sang out from a +grassy hummock.</p> + +<p>The startled lady saw that he was not +near enough to be dangerous. So she +asked him, with a proud air, what his +question might be.</p> + +<p>"I'm interested in birds' eggs," Benny +explained. "Have you any, madam?"</p> + +<p>The prairie chicken took a few steps +towards him, in a very grand manner.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed!" she answered. "I have +a baker's dozen! They are the most beautiful +eggs I've ever seen—though perhaps +I shouldn't say so.... They're speckled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +with brownish specks," she continued.</p> + +<p>"How interesting!" Benny Badger exclaimed. +"I must have a look at those +eggs. Where is your nest, madam?"</p> + +<p>And just then the prairie chicken did a +strange thing. Without a word of warning +she sprang into the air and sailed +away, leaving Benny Badger to gaze after +her, and wonder why she hadn't answered +his question.</p> + +<p>He soon made up his mind that he would +find her nest, anyhow.</p> + +<p>Now, since there wasn't a tree anywhere +in the neighborhood, Benny felt quite sure +that the lady's nest must be on the ground. +And since he knew that all prairie chickens +slept at night, he waited until dark +before he began his search, for he wanted +to find Mrs. Prairie Chicken at home when +he called on her.</p> + +<p>So when night came once more, Benny<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +Badger left his den and went forth on his +errand.</p> + +<p>He had gone only a short distance when +he met his old friend Mr. Fox, who had +told him a little—and very little, too—about +eggs. "Are you having any luck +to-night?" Benny Badger inquired.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" Mr. Fox asked +him.</p> + +<p>"Have you found any eggs?" Benny +questioned.</p> + +<p>Mr. Fox said something that might +have been either "Yes" or "No." Benny +was not quite sure which it was. But +since Mr. Fox shook his head, he decided +that it must be "No."</p> + +<p>"I think we're too late," Mr. Fox remarked. +"The eggs must have all hatched +by this time."</p> + +<p>Benny Badger hastened to set Mr. Fox +right.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That can't be possible," he replied. +"I met Mrs. Prairie Chicken this morning +and she told me she had a baker's +dozen of eggs in her nest."</p> + +<p>"You must be mistaken about that," +Mr. Fox assured him. "Where did you +say her nest is?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't say," Benny answered.</p> + +<p>"No, of course not!" Mr. Fox corrected +himself. "What I meant was, where did +Mrs. Prairie Chicken say it is?"</p> + +<p>"She didn't say," replied Benny Badger.</p> + +<p>"That's unfortunate," Mr. Fox told +him. "It would have saved us a good deal +of trouble if she had explained where she +lives."</p> + +<p>Then he told Benny Badger to go home, +and not to trouble himself any more. "<i>I</i> +will hunt for the old lady's nest," Mr. +Fox declared.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>Benny Badger couldn't help thinking +that Mr. Fox was a very kind person. And +he went away feeling that it was very fine +to have a friend like him.</p> + +<p>But after a while he began to wonder +if he wasn't mistaken; for he happened +to remember that Mr. Fox hadn't said a +single word about letting him know when +he had found the nest with the thirteen +eggs in it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>XIII</h2> + +<h3>DON'T DO THAT!</h3> + + +<p>Benny Badger turned in his tracks and +went straight back to the place where he +had left Mr. Fox.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Fox was nowhere to be seen.</p> + +<p>So Benny began asking everybody he +met if he had caught a glimpse of Mr. Fox +that night. First he asked a white-footed +deer mouse, who pointed behind him and +said that he had just seen Mr. Fox "over +there." Then Benny put his question to +a frightened prairie dog, who claimed that +he had noticed Mr. Fox "over there," as +he pointed in a direction exactly opposite. +And still another reported that he had no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>ticed +Mr. Fox in an entirely different +place.</p> + +<p>"That's odd!" Benny Badger said to +himself. "How can he be in three places +at once?" And since he could not answer +that question, he decided to look in none +of those three directions, but to try a +fourth, because he felt sure that none of +the three could be the right one. And besides, +if Mr. Fox had really been where +he was said to have been seen, he was such +a roving fellow that he would have moved +on.</p> + +<p>Well, where he looked next, Benny +found Mr. Fox.</p> + +<p>"What luck?" Benny asked that wily +gentleman once more.</p> + +<p>Mr. Fox replied somewhat stiffly that +he had nothing to say.</p> + +<p>"What's that on your mouth?" Benny +Badger demanded suddenly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Fox hastily rubbed his paw across +his mouth.</p> + +<p>"It can't be egg," he blurted.</p> + +<p>"<i>Egg!</i>" Benny Badger shouted. "I +hadn't mentioned <i>egg!</i> But now that <i>you</i> +mention <i>egg</i>, perhaps that's it."</p> + +<p>Mr. Fox looked most ill at ease. But +he made no reply.</p> + +<p>"What's that clinging to your shoulder?" +asked Benny Badger abruptly.</p> + +<p>"It can't be a feather," said Mr. Fox, +nervously brushing off his shoulder as he +spoke.</p> + +<p>"A feather!" Benny Badger exclaimed. +"I've said nothing about a <i>feather!</i> But +now that you speak of it, Mr. Fox, perhaps +that's it."</p> + +<p>Mr. Fox looked very, very uncomfortable. +And he murmured something about +"having to be on his way."</p> + +<p>"Wait a moment!" said Benny, as Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +Fox turned aside. "What's that on the +back of your neck?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Fox tried in vain to look at the +back of his own neck.</p> + +<p>"It can't be——" he began.</p> + +<p>But before he could finish, Benny Badger +interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is!" he cried. "It's my teeth!"</p> + +<p>And so saying, he seized Mr. Fox on +the back of his neck and began to drag +him over the grass.</p> + +<p>It became clear, at once, that Mr. Fox +did not enjoy the sport.</p> + +<p>"Don't do that, friend!" he begged. +"What are you trying to do, anyhow?"</p> + +<p>"I'm trying to rub the egg off your +mouth," Benny Badger explained.</p> + +<p>"Please don't trouble yourself," said +Mr. Fox.</p> + +<p>Then Benny began to shake him.</p> + +<p>"Don't do that, friend!" said Mr. Fox<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +again. "What are you trying to do?"</p> + +<p>"I'm only trying to shake the feather +off you," Benny told him.</p> + +<p>"Don't trouble yourself," said Mr. +Fox. "If you'll take those teeth off my +neck, that's all I'll ask of you."</p> + +<p>"Not yet!" Benny Badger replied +grimly. "You're a robber. And I'm going +to teach you a lesson.... You <i>will</i> +rob birds' nests, will you?"</p> + +<p>To his great surprise, Mr. Fox began +to laugh.</p> + +<p>"Why, you'd rob them yourself if you +weren't so clumsy!" he cried. "You're +really no better than I am."</p> + +<p>Benny Badger hadn't thought of that. +And the idea surprised him so much that +his mouth fell open. And of course Mr. +Fox at once leaped aside and ran off.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>XIV</h2> + +<h3>A QUEER DISCOVERY</h3> + + +<p>No one would ever have called Benny +Badger a great traveller. He was altogether +too heavy to roam far from home +upon his short legs. So it often happened +that he did not know all that went +on in the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>Of course, his watchful eyes took in almost +everything that was in sight of his +den. But as for what was taking place +just beyond the next rise, that was an entirely +different matter. Unless somebody +chanced to stop and gossip with Benny, +sometimes several days would pass before +he knew what his neighbors were doing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> + +<p>Luckily, Benny Badger kept his ears +open, when he was awake.</p> + +<p>And often he kept them half-open when +he lay half-asleep, stretched out in the +grass not too far from his den, enjoying a +sun-bath.</p> + +<p>One day when he was sunning himself +the sound of voices snatched him out of +his drowsiness. And he kept quite still, +to see what he could see, and hear what +he could hear.</p> + +<p>Soon three coyotes came sneaking +through the grass, talking in hushed +voices—a thing they seldom did. Benny +could hardly believe his own ears, because +he had supposed that if the coyote family +spoke at all, they always howled.</p> + +<p>But if the quietness of the coyotes surprised +Benny, what they said astonished +him a great deal more. For Benny Badger +learned that the three cronies were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +headed for a prairie dog village just beyond +the next rise.</p> + +<p>That was most amazing news. Benny +Badger hadn't known that there was a +prairie dog village so near his den. And +for a moment he was tempted to call to +the coyotes and ask them if what they +said was really true or if they were only +fooling.</p> +<div class="figright" style="width: 276px;"> +<img src="images/illus-2.jpg" width="276" height="400" alt="Mr. Owl greets Benny very coldly." title="Mr. Owl greets Benny very coldly." /> +<span class="caption">Mr. Owl greets Benny very coldly.</span> +</div> +<p>But he didn't think the three prowlers +had seen him. So there seemed to be no +reason for their saying what wasn't so.</p> + +<p>Well, the moment they disappeared, +Benny Badger jumped up and hurried +into his den. He would have followed the +coyotes, but he decided it would be better +to wait. The prairie dogs would be too +wary, with those coyotes in their village.</p> + +<p>But later, after the coyotes had left—ah! +then he would pay a visit to the village +himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> + +<p>Towards evening Benny Badger crept +out of his den and followed the trail of +the three coyotes. And sure enough! +when he reached the top of the rise he +saw the mounds of the prairie dogs spread +out before him.</p> + +<p>Though he saw no prairie dogs, he noticed +an owl sitting upon a heap of earth +that had been tossed out around a hole.</p> + +<p>Benny Badger strolled up to the owl.</p> + +<p>"It's a fine evening!" said Benny.</p> + +<p>The owl merely stared at him, round-eyed, +and made no reply.</p> + +<p>"I say, it's a fine evening!" Benny repeated +in a louder tone.</p> + +<p>"Very well!" the owl replied. "You +may say it as often as you wish. I'm +sure I have no objection.... But you +don't need to come any nearer," he added.</p> + +<p>Benny Badger stopped and squatted in +the grass. He was glad to rest, for he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>—as +has been said—no great traveller.</p> + +<p>"Is anybody at home?" he asked presently.</p> + +<p>"Somebody is," said the owl.</p> + +<p>"Then I'll dig right in as soon as I get +my breath," said Benny Badger, glancing +at the hole.</p> + +<p>"Do you want to see somebody?" the +owl asked. "For if you do, there's no +need of your doing any digging here."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" Benny inquired.</p> + +<p>"I'm somebody," the owl informed +him. "I live here; and I'll be disgusted +if you go to tearing my house to pieces."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>XV</h2> + +<h3>BENNY AND THE OWL</h3> + + +<p>Benny Badger smiled at the owl. He +thought he must be fooling.</p> + +<p>"You're a joker, aren't you?" said +Benny. "But I never should have +thought it—you look so glum."</p> + +<p>The owl seemed somewhat displeased.</p> + +<p>"I've never made a joke yet," he declared, +"though I've no doubt I could, if +I should ever want to."</p> + +<p>Benny Badger glanced from the owl to +the hole, and then back again at the +strange fellow.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say you live here, +in this hole?" Benny exclaimed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Certainly; I do," the owl replied +sharply.</p> + +<p>Benny Badger couldn't understand +how that could be.</p> + +<p>"But this is a prairie dog house," he +protested.... "Where's the chap that +built it? He must be around here somewhere."</p> + +<p>"I don't know where he is, and I don't +care where he is," the owl answered. "I +drove him out of this house because I +wanted to live here myself. And I didn't +trouble myself to see where he went."</p> + +<p>Benny Badger could hardly believe what +the owl told him. But he noticed that the +fellow had a sharp beak, and sharp claws +too.</p> + +<p>"I should think you played a joke on +the prairie dog," he remarked at last.</p> + +<p>"Should you?" said the owl. "If it +<i>was</i> a joke, it wasn't nearly as big a one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +as I'll play on anybody that tries to drive +<i>me</i> away from here.... I drove a snake +away yesterday," he added. And he +looked very thoughtfully at Benny Badger, +as if he were picking out a soft place +in which to sink his cruel beak.</p> + +<p>"You needn't be so touchy," said +Benny. "I'm not going to disturb you. +I'm sure I shouldn't care to live in your +house."</p> + +<p>The owl was a peppery fellow. He +grew angry at once.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" he demanded. "What's +the matter with my house?"</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you," Benny replied. "It's a +second-hand one. And that's bad enough. +But it would be still worse if I took it +away from you, because then it would be +third-hand."</p> + +<p>The owl looked daggers at him.</p> + +<p>"You've insulted me!" he cried loudly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +swelling himself up—or so it seemed.</p> + +<p>"Have I?" Benny Badger inquired. +"Don't mention it! I'm sure you're quite +welcome." To tell the truth, he had not +the least idea what the owl meant.</p> + +<p>Naturally, Benny's words only made +the owl angrier than ever. And he became +actually rude.</p> + +<p>"If I were you," he spluttered, "until +I learned better manners I would dig a +hole somewhere, crawl inside it, and pull +it in after me."</p> + +<p>Now, that was a new idea—for Benny +Badger. And he liked it.</p> + +<p>"What fun that would be!" he exclaimed. +"Then when I wanted to go out +I'd have to dig my way again!"</p> + +<p>The owl gave a queer cry. And looking +quite discouraged, he flew off and left +Benny Badger sitting there in the grass.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>XVI</h2> + +<h3>SPOILING A GAME</h3> + + +<p>Though the owl left him in such a rude +fashion, Benny Badger wasted no time in +thinking about what had just happened. +There was something far more worth +while that claimed his thoughts. For the +prairie dog village still remained where +it had been. And as Benny looked at it +he found it highly interesting.</p> + +<p>Even as he glanced at the doorway of +the nearest house he caught sight of a +small head with bulging eyes, which +stared at him without blinking.</p> + +<p>Benny moved nearer. And the head +promptly vanished.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then Benny Badger smiled all over his +face.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" he exclaimed. "Here's somebody +else at home!" And he looked all +around at a number of other doorways. +To his great delight he saw other eyes +peeping at him.</p> + +<p>"There's a lot of 'em at home!" Benny +cried with great glee.</p> + +<p>He never felt happier in all his life. +Everything was exactly as he would have +wished it. And he was just taking off his +coat, and trying to decide where he would +begin to dig, when something happened +that made him look very peevish. And he +slipped his coat on again, and lay flat in +the grass.</p> + +<p>A coyote had come bounding up at exactly +the wrong time! And every one of +the prairie dogs promptly pulled his head +out of sight.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> + +<p>If he noticed Benny at all, the coyote +must have thought him no more than a +heap of dirt. Anyhow, he paid no heed +to Benny, but went stalking through the +village with his tongue hanging out of his +mouth, looking sharply out of the corners +of his eyes at the houses he passed.</p> + +<p>There is no denying that Benny Badger +was displeased. He wanted no sneaking +coyote at hand to spoil his plans. And +he was all ready to growl, when something +made him change his mind and close his +mouth.</p> + +<p>The coyote walked through the village +and disappeared in the distance. And +here and there heads soon began to appear +in doorways.</p> + +<p>But when Benny Badger stood up and +drew nearer to them, they dropped down +again.</p> + +<p>The next moment a very angry lady<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +rushed up and began scolding Benny Badger +at the top of her voice. It was Mrs. +Coyote. "Go away from this village!" she +shrieked. "You're spoiling our hunting!"</p> + +<p>"Whose hunting?" Benny Badger +asked her.</p> + +<p>"Mine and my husband's!" she snapped. +"That was my husband that passed +by here a few minutes ago. Of course we +know the Prairie Dogs will all hide when +they see him. But they're so silly that +they're sure to bob up and stare at him +after he has gone along. And then"—she +said—"then's the time I dash up and +grab them."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Coyote paused and glared at +Benny Badger. "You've spoiled my +game," she said. "You went and showed +yourself. And when they saw you, the +Prairie Dogs hid again."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> + +<p>Benny Badger looked at Mrs. Coyote +pleasantly enough.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you dig for them?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Coyote didn't appear to care +for that idea in the least. She threatened +Benny Badger with dreadful things, if +he didn't leave at once. And then she hurried +on to find her husband.</p> + +<p>Benny Badger was glad to see her go. +He was not at all afraid either of Mr. or +Mrs. Coyote—nor of both of them together. +And though he had spoiled their +game, he hardly thought that they would +be able to spoil his.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>XVII</h2> + +<h3>THE PRAIRIE DOG VILLAGE</h3> + + +<p>Having once found his way to the prairie +dog village, Benny Badger often visited +it.</p> + +<p>And it is said, by those who know, that +while he was there he always had a much +pleasanter time than the villagers themselves.</p> + +<p>So little did the prairie dogs enjoy +Benny Badger's society that whenever +one of them spied Benny nearing the +settlement he never failed to jerk his tail +up and down and call out the news.</p> + +<p>At the sound of the alarm—a high-pitched +chatter—every prairie dog who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +wasn't at home scurried for his hole as +fast as he could scamper.</p> + +<p>Benny Badger always had to smile when +he saw the villagers tumbling through +their doorways. They couldn't have done +anything that would have suited him better. +Had there been a single one among +the prairie dogs that wasn't a dunce he +would have run <i>away</i> from his hole, outside +the village, to hide somewhere until +Benny Badger left the place.</p> + +<p>But the prairie dogs were too stupid to +think of such a trick. They knew no better +than to rush into their houses—which +was exactly what Benny Badger wanted +them to do.</p> + +<p>And if anything happened now and +then to make matters specially unpleasant +for the prairie dogs, it never troubled +Benny Badger. He seemed to grow fatter +and happier than ever as time passed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> + +<p>But at last he heard a bit of news one +day that made him feel quite glum.</p> + +<p>A young deer mouse claimed to have +overheard a rancher talking—the rancher +that lived about a mile from Benny Badger's +home. And the deer mouse reported +that the man was going to get rid of +the whole prairie dog family. "He says +they eat too much grass, and dig too many +holes," the deer mouse declared.</p> + +<p>Though the news upset Benny, and +quite took away his appetite, for a few +moments, he began to cast about for a way +to prevent such a sad affair. If you could +have seen him with a worried look on his +face, anxiously asking everybody he met +to give him advice, you would have +thought that he felt very, very sorry for +the prairie dogs.</p> + +<p>But such was not the case at all. Benny +Badger was feeling sorry for himself; for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +he knew that if the rancher drove the villagers +away he would miss them terribly. +Benny had almost given up hope of +finding a way to put an end to the rancher's +plan when the deer mouse told him +another bit of news.</p> + +<p>"He's going to build a new fence out +this way—the rancher is!" the deer mouse +informed Benny. "It's coming this side +of the Prairie Dog village. And that's +why the rancher wants to get rid of the +Prairie Dogs."</p> + +<p>"How do you know this?" Benny Badger +asked his small friend. "Have you +been eavesdropping again?"</p> + +<p>The deer mouse blushed. And since he +made no reply, Benny Badger had to believe +him.</p> + +<p>Still, Benny could see no way out of his +difficulty. And he went home at day-break +feeling quite out of sorts.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + +<p>But when he awoke, right in the middle +of the day, a happy thought popped into +his head.</p> + +<p>He was so excited by it that he couldn't +go to sleep again, though the sun was shining +brightly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>XVIII</h2> + +<h3>SAVING THE DAY</h3> + + +<p>Benny Badger kept his bright idea to +himself. But his neighbors knew that he +must have thought of something, because +he seemed so good-natured all at once.</p> + +<p>"He has a secret," they told one another. +But they couldn't find out what it +was. Though they asked Benny Badger +point blank what he intended to do, he refused +to tell them. He only smiled, and +looked very wise. And indeed he felt just +as wise as he looked.</p> + +<p>For a time a good many of his friends +spied upon him. Hidden behind whatever +was handy, they watched Benny Badger.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> + +<p>But they soon grew tired of that. So +far as they could see, he did nothing but +dig holes. And certainly that was nothing +new for him. So his friends went +about their own affairs, leaving Benny to +dig as many holes as he pleased.</p> + +<p>Now, it pleased him to dig more holes, +and bigger holes, than he had ever dug +before. And he dug them all on the <i>other</i> +side of the prairie dog village—on the +side toward the rancher's home.</p> + +<p>Benny seemed to have no fixed plan as +to <i>how</i> he should dig the holes—whether +in a straight row, or in a circle, or any +other way. His one idea seemed to be to +dig a plenty—to dig as many as anybody +could possibly want for any purpose whatsoever.</p> + +<p>Now and then some passer-by would +stop and look at Benny for a few minutes, +and snicker.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are you looking for buried gold?" Mr. +Coyote asked him.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter—have you been +digging so fast that you can't stop?" Mr. +Fox inquired.</p> + +<p>Even the prairie dogs—timid as they +were—ventured to jeer at Benny Badger +and demanded whether he had gone +crazy. But Benny Badger never paused +to answer anybody. He smiled a good +deal, however, as if he knew something +that nobody else suspected.</p> + +<p>Every morning at dawn he went home +to rest. And every evening at sunset he +returned to the same place, just beyond +the prairie dog village, to take up his +work where he had left it.</p> + +<p>The only remark Benny would make +when anyone insisted on talking with him +was that he couldn't waste his time gossiping, +because <i>he had to save the day</i>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> + +<p>That seemed a strange statement. No +one knew exactly what Benny Badger +meant by it. To be sure, he saved each +day for sleeping—for he worked only at +night. But it was just as true that he +saved each night for working. So it was +only natural that people should be puzzled.</p> + +<p>To everybody's surprise, Benny stopped +his work as suddenly as he had begun it. +Exactly at midnight he paused, brushed +the dirt off himself, and slipped into his +coat, remarking that he thought he "had +saved the day."</p> + +<p>With a hungry look on his face he +turned toward the prairie dog village. +And there was a great scurrying then.</p> + +<p>"You ought to thank me!" Benny Badger +called to the prairie dogs as they dived +into their holes. "I've saved the day! +The rancher certainly won't try to get rid +of you now."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>XIX</h2> + +<h3>PLEASANT PRAISE</h3> + + +<p>Not one of the prairie dogs knew what +Benny Badger meant when he cried that +he "had saved the day."</p> + +<p>Of course, they had heard that the +rancher did not like their village, and that +he wanted to get rid of it—and them. But +they couldn't imagine how Benny Badger +might be able to help them. Indeed, +they rather liked the rancher better than +Benny, anyhow. And as for thanking +Benny, the only time they would ever feel +like thanking him would be when he bade +them good-by and left the neighborhood, +to return no more.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Benny Badger was quite unaware +of all that. He complained that the prairie +dogs weren't treating him well.</p> + +<p>"They ought to send a committee to my +house to thank me for what I've done for +them," he grumbled. "No one around +here seems to understand me. But the +rancher certainly will. You'll see before +long that he'll be after me, to tell me what +<i>he</i> thinks of me."</p> + +<p>For several days afterward Benny lost +a good deal of sleep by staying outside his +house while watching for the rancher to +appear. And little by little, from things +he said now and then, his neighbors +learned his secret.</p> + +<p>They discovered that Benny Badger had +been digging holes for the posts of the +new fence that the rancher was going to +build!</p> + +<p>"When he finds those holes already<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +made, he won't be so foolish as to dig +others," Benny explained.</p> + +<p>"But you've gone and dug them on the +wrong side of the Prairie Dog village!" +somebody objected.</p> + +<p>"Of course I have!" Benny retorted. +"I did that on purpose. Don't you understand +that when the rancher finds the +holes he'll use them where they are? You +don't suppose—do you?—that he'll be so +silly as to move the holes?"</p> + +<p>The objector—a somewhat youthful +coyote—slunk away with a foolish simper. +He saw that Benny Badger knew +what he was talking about.</p> + +<p>"Since the Prairie Dogs' village will +lie <i>outside</i> the new fence, the rancher +won't pay any more attention to it," +Benny Badger said stoutly. "From this +time on, the Prairie Dogs are quite safe—so +far as the rancher is concerned....<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +And that's how I have saved the day."</p> + +<p>Benny Badger's secret was out at last. +And as fast as people learned it they +stopped to tell him that they had known +all the time that he had a fine plan of some +sort, and that if there was anything they +could do to help him they would be greatly +obliged if he would "count on them."</p> + +<p>Of course the work was all done. But +perhaps Benny's neighbors hadn't stopped +to think of that. Anyhow he had never +known them to be so pleasant before. And +he quite enjoyed their praise; for everyone +told him that nobody had ever suspected +that he was so clever.</p> + +<p>It was lucky that Benny took the time +when he did to listen to his neighbors' +pleasant speeches. Unfortunately they +soon came to a sudden end.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>XX</h2> + +<h3>THE RANCHER IS ANGRY</h3> + + +<p>Benny Badger lay motionless, with his +long hair parted along the middle of his +back and flowing off his sides in such a +fashion that a careless passer-by would +not have noticed that it was anything more +than dry grass.</p> + +<p>For several days Benny had been +watching for the rancher. And now, at +last, he saw him coming, riding on a horse +over the rolling plain.</p> + +<p>There was another man with the rancher. +And as soon as Benny caught the +murmur of their voices he made ready to +hear many pleasant remarks about him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span>self. +He was only waiting until the riders +should discover the holes he had dug near +the prairie dog village.</p> + +<p>Nearer and nearer came the men. +And Benny Badger crouched lower and +lower.</p> + +<p>They had passed him, and ridden a bit +nearer the village, when the rancher suddenly +pulled his horse to a stand.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" Benny Badger exclaimed under +his breath. "He sees the new post-holes +that I've dug for him. And how pleased +he'll be!"</p> + +<p>It was true that the rancher had just +noticed the holes for the first time. The +moment he saw them he gave a great roar.</p> + +<p>"A badger!" he shouted. "We'll have +to trap him. I can't have him tearing my +ranch up like this. These holes are the +finest things in the world to break a critter's +leg in."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<p>Benny Badger could scarcely believe +what his own ears told him. He thought +there must be a mistake somewhere. And +when the rancher declared that the badger +that dug those holes was worse than a +whole village of prairie dogs, Benny was +tempted, for one wild moment, to dash up +to the men and tell them exactly what he +thought.</p> + +<p>But he remembered, in time, what the +rancher had just said about trapping him. +And he never stirred until the two riders +had moved along.</p> + +<p>When they had ridden beyond the next +rise Benny Badger made a rush for his +hole. And there he stayed all the rest of +that day.</p> + +<p>He didn't quite know what to do. And +a little later he felt more uncomfortable +than ever when the rancher began to build +his new fence around the prairie dog vil<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>lage, +without using a single one of the +post-holes that Benny had dug for him.</p> + +<p>All Benny's neighbors noticed what was +happening. And they no longer told +Benny what a clever fellow he was. On +the contrary, they laughed slyly, and said +things to one another whenever Benny +Badger came near them.</p> + +<p>When he growled at them they always +pretended to be surprised to see him, and +asked him if he had "dug any post-holes +lately."</p> + +<p>But Benny Badger never answered that +question. Every time he heard it he felt +like moving away from the neighborhood. +And when he came home early one morning +and found a <i>trap</i> right in his doorway +he made up his mind then and there that +matters had gone far enough.</p> + +<p>He turned away. And without stopping +to tell anybody what he intended to do, or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +where he was going—without even saying +good-by—he stole away across the plains +to hunt for a new home.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>XXI</h2> + +<h3>THE NEW HOME</h3> + + +<p>When Benny Badger went wandering off +to find a safer and pleasanter neighborhood +in which to make a new home for +himself, he had no idea at all as to where +he should go. He only knew that he +wanted to get a good, long distance away +from the place where he had been living.</p> + +<p>Wherever he decided to settle, it must +be some spot where the ungrateful rancher +wouldn't be likely to find him, and set +a trap in his doorway again.</p> + +<p>On and on Benny travelled, until at +last he met a spry young chap—one of the +deer mouse family—who stopped still and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +stared at Benny as if he would like to +speak to him, but didn't quite dare to.</p> + +<p>"Hullo!" said Benny Badger. "Do +you live around here?"</p> + +<p>The deer mouse answered politely with +a nod, as if he would like to talk, if he +weren't too shy.</p> + +<p>"Do you find this an agreeable neighborhood?" +Benny Badger inquired.</p> + +<p>"Very!" the deer mouse replied in a +thin, piping voice.</p> + +<p>"Is there plenty of good water nearby?" +Benny asked him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed!" the deer mouse exclaimed. +"There's a water-hole right +over there!" And he pointed over his +shoulder, without taking his eyes off Benny +Badger. He knew it was safer to keep +a close watch of strangers.</p> + +<p>Benny sat down. He had journeyed a +long way and he was tired.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'll go and have a drink as soon as +I'm rested," he said. "I'm glad there's +good water here. This seems to be a pleasant +place.... Are there any good Gophers +and Prairie Dogs in the neighborhood?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes!" the deer mouse answered. +"But you needn't worry about them. +They won't harm you if you mind your +own affairs. I've lived here a long time; +and they haven't touched me."</p> + +<p>"What about Owls?" Benny Badger +wanted to know.</p> + +<p>The deer mouse looked solemn all at +once.</p> + +<p>"There are a few," he admitted. "If +you're thinking of settling here, you'll +have to watch sharp for them. I've had +several narrow escapes."</p> + +<p>Benny Badger smiled.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to see the Owl that could hurt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +me!" he cried. "And as for Gophers and +Prairie Dogs, <i>I like them</i>.... This is +the very place I've been looking for. And +as soon as I have rested a little longer and +had a drink of that good water I'm going +to dig myself a den right where I'm sitting +now."</p> + +<p>The deer mouse pricked up his long ears +at that. To the best of his belief, no badger +had ever lived in the neighborhood before. +And if the stranger was going to +dig a hole, he intended to watch him while +he worked.</p> + +<p>"If you feel rested enough now, I'll +show you the way to the water-hole," the +deer mouse said presently. He was impatient +for the fun to begin.</p> + +<p>Benny Badger stood up.</p> + +<p>"Lead on!" he commanded. "I'll follow." +And then he yawned—for it was +already long past his usual bedtime.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> + +<p>The deer mouse trembled slightly as he +looked into Benny's great mouth. And +he took care to keep well ahead of the +stranger all the way to the water-hole, and +back again, too. But he soon forgot his +fear when Benny Badger began to dig the +new den. The dirt flew in such showers +as the deer mouse had never seen in all +his life—except during a cyclone.</p> + +<p>Benny had begun to dig—as he said +he should—in the exact spot where he +had sat and rested. But for one reason +or another he soon changed his mind, and +started to dig a different hole a short distance +from the first one.</p> + +<p>Soon he moved again. And after he had +begun no less than five holes, only to leave +each one unfinished, the deer mouse interrupted +him with a sharp cry.</p> + +<p>"Stop! Stop!" he begged Benny. +"Please don't do that!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> + +<p>Benny Badger paused and stared at him +in amazement.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" he asked. "What's the +matter?"</p> + +<p>The deer mouse was all a-flutter.</p> + +<p>"Goodness me!" he exclaimed. "You'll +have the whole neighborhood dug up if +you're not careful!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>XXII</h2> + +<h3>A BREAKFAST INVITATION</h3> + + +<p>For a moment or two Benny Badger +looked at the deer mouse without saying a +word. He told himself that here was a +country person who couldn't ever have +travelled much, or he would have known +better than to make such a remark.... +Spoil the whole neighborhood indeed!... +Benny's lip twisted up in something +like a sneer.</p> + +<p>"Don't you worry!" he snorted. "I +don't believe you ever saw a first-class +digger before. I'm not going to spoil +the neighborhood. I'm <i>improving</i> it. +I'm making a fine house here—prob<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span>ably +the finest there is for miles around."</p> + +<p>The deer mouse appeared ashamed. Of +course he didn't like to seem stupid.</p> + +<p>"But why do you dig in so many +places?" he faltered.</p> + +<p>"That's my way," Benny Badger told +him. "As soon as I get one den well started +I think I'd rather live somewhere else. +But I don't mind beginning again because +there's no better exercise than digging."</p> + +<p>"No doubt!" the deer mouse agreed. +"But I'm sure it would be much too +violent for me."</p> + +<p>He said no more, but looked on with a +puzzled air until at last Benny Badger +had actually dug in one place long enough +to make a deep den.</p> + +<p>When it was quite finished Benny Badger +brushed the dirt off himself and +turned to Mr. Deer Mouse.</p> + +<p>"Come inside and see if my new house<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +isn't the finest one you ever saw!" he said.</p> + +<p>For some reason Mr. Deer Mouse did +not seem eager to enter. To be sure, he +thanked Benny for the invitation, but he +backed away a few steps and said that he +thought he'd better not look at the new +house that morning. "I—I haven't the +time to spare," he mumbled.</p> + +<p>Benny Badger couldn't understand that +remark. The white-footed gentleman had +had plenty of time to spend while watching +him dig the den. And Benny said as +much, too.</p> + +<p>"That's exactly the point," said the deer +mouse. "I've spent so much time already +that I've used it all up."</p> + +<p>Well, Benny Badger couldn't understand +that either.</p> + +<p>"Used up all the time!" he cried scornfully. +"Isn't there plenty more where the +other time came from?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, to be sure—to be sure!" said the +deer mouse, who seemed ready to agree to +anything—except to Benny's invitation. +"But there is another reason why I +mustn't visit your new home this morning: +I'm hungry. I haven't had my breakfast +yet."</p> + +<p>Suddenly Benny Badger remembered +that he was hungry himself.</p> + +<p>And as he stared at plump Mr. Deer +Mouse a certain idea came into his head. +And he looked Mr. Deer up and +down before he spoke.</p> + +<p>"I haven't had my breakfast either," +he said at last. "I'm ready for a good +meal. Come right in and join me!"</p> + +<p>But something made Mr. Deer Mouse +say, "No, thank you!" <i>Joining a badger +at breakfast!</i> Somehow that had a dangerous +sound.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>XXIII</h2> + +<h3>MR. DEER MOUSE IS TIMID</h3> + + +<p>Benny Badger began to lose patience +with the deer mouse. He was one of the +most timid persons Benny had ever seen. +And Benny was on the point of telling him +that he hadn't even the courage of a +prairie dog.</p> + +<p>But suddenly a new idea flashed into +his head. He thought he knew what was +troubling Mr. Deer Mouse.</p> + +<p>"When I asked you to join me at breakfast +I didn't mean what you thought I +did," Benny announced. "You thought—didn't +you?—that I meant to breakfast +on <i>you</i>."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Deer Mouse admitted faintly that +he had had some such notion.</p> + +<p>"How ridiculous!" Benny Badger +cried. "Why, you're so quick that I could +chase you all day—and all night, too—without +catching you. You're too spry for +me. So we might as well put such an idea +out of our minds."</p> + +<p>Benny Badger sighed as he spoke. And +he couldn't help noticing, once more, how +very, very plump Mr. Deer Mouse was.</p> + +<p>"What I meant by your joining me at +a good meal was simply this," he continued: +"If you'll only stay with me, and +follow me quietly wherever I go, there's +a good chance that you'll have a bone to +gnaw before a great while."</p> + +<p>All that seemed very pleasant to the +deer mouse.</p> + +<p>"Thank you ever so much!" he murmured. +"I'll be glad to accept your invi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span>tation, +so long as we aren't going to +breakfast inside your new home."</p> + +<p>So they set out. And for a time Mr. +Deer Mouse followed Benny Badger all +around the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>Though Benny kept a sharp watch on +all sides, he couldn't see anything—or anybody—that +promised a meal. And he decided +at last that he would have to make +a change of some sort in his plans.</p> + +<p>So he sat down and beckoned to Mr. +Deer Mouse to move nearer.</p> + +<p>"You go ahead of me, and I'll follow +you," he said. "You're smaller than I +am, and perhaps you won't frighten the +game the way I do."</p> + +<p>Mr. Deer Mouse did not seem to care +for the suggestion.</p> + +<p>"You might make a mistake," he objected. +"If I went ahead of you, you +might think that I was the game. And<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +there might be a terrible accident."</p> + +<p>Benny Badger sniffed.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" he cried. "If I did make +such a mistake, I promise you that I +wouldn't let it happen more than once."</p> + +<p>But the deer mouse proved to be a stubborn +chap. He declined flatly to do as +Benny wanted.</p> + +<p>"Very well!" said Benny Badger gruffly. +"I'm sorry that you don't care to +make things as pleasant as possible for a +newcomer. Where I used to live, people +couldn't do enough for me."</p> + +<p>"I believe you," Mr. Deer Mouse retorted. +"In fact, I've heard that a man +even set a trap for you, right in your own +doorway."</p> + +<p>Of course, that news came to Benny +Badger as a great surprise. He had had +no idea that Mr. Deer Mouse knew anything +about him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Somebody has been gossiping!" Benny +Badger growled angrily. "Who told you +that?"</p> + +<p>"Goodness me! Everybody has heard +about it," Mr. Deer Mouse replied. +"Don't you know that news travels fast +over the plains?"</p> + +<p>"Does it travel as fast as I do?" Benny +Badger asked him suddenly.</p> + +<p>Before the words were out of his mouth +he leaped at Mr. Deer Mouse. And for +one as heavy as he was, Benny leaped +with surprising swiftness.</p> + +<p>But quick as he was, he was too slow to +catch Mr. Deer Mouse napping. That +nimble fellow seemed to melt away right +beneath Benny Badger's paws.</p> + +<p>For one moment Benny was sure he had +him. And the next moment he was sure +he hadn't.</p> + +<p>He couldn't see his small neighbor any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>where. +In fact, it was a whole week before +Benny Badger set his eyes on him +again. And to Benny's amazement, Mr. +Deer Mouse was just as polite as ever. +He asked Benny how he liked his new +home, and if he had found the people in +the neighborhood as pleasant as he had +expected.</p> + +<p>"My house is a fine one," Benny told +him. "And I dare say the neighborhood +is as good as I could expect. Certainly +there's a plenty of Gophers and Prairie +Dogs here."</p> + +<p>"I suppose"—said Mr. Deer Mouse—"I +suppose some of them join you at +breakfast every morning."</p> + +<p>Benny Badger looked at him sharply. +He was all ready to get angry. But Mr. +Deer Mouse was so polite, and seemed so +respectful, that Benny was ashamed to +lose his temper.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> + +<p>He actually winked at Mr. Deer Mouse. +And he felt more cheerful than he had +since the rancher spoke ill of him.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad I moved," he told Mr. Deer +Mouse. "This is a fine place. I'm going +to live here the rest of my life."</p> + +<p>And he did.</p> + +<h3>THE END</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>SLEEPY-TIME TALES</h2> + +<div class='center'><small>(Trademark Registered.)</small></div> + +<h3>By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY</h3> + +<div class='center'>AUTHOR OF THE<br /> +TUCK-ME-IN TALES and SLUMBER-TOWN TALES<br /> +————————————————————<br /> +<b>Colored Wrapper and Text Illustrations Drawn by HARRY L. SMITH</b><br /> +————————————————————<br /></div> +<p>This series of animal stories for children from three +to eight years, tells of the adventures of the four-footed +creatures of our American woods and fields in an +amusing way, which delights small two-footed human +beings.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Sleepy-time Tales"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF CUFFY BEAR</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF FRISKY SQUIRREL</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF TOMMY FOX</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF FATTY COON</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF BILLY WOODCHUCK</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF JIMMY RABBIT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF PETER MINK</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF SANDY CHIPMUNK</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF BROWNIE BEAVER</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF PADDY MUSKRAT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF FERDINAND FROG</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF DICKIE DEER MOUSE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF TIMOTHY TURTLE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF BENNY BADGER</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF MAJOR MONKEY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF GRUMPY WEASEL</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF GRANDFATHER MOLE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF MASTER MEADOW MOUSE</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'>————————————————————<br /> +<span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span><br /> +————————————————————<br /></div> + + + +<h2>TUCK-ME-IN TALES</h2> + +<div class='center'><small>(Trademark Registered.)</small></div> + +<h3>By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY</h3> + +<div class='center'>AUTHOR OF THE<br /> +SLEEPY-TIME TALES and SLUMBER-TOWN TALES<br /> +————————————————————<br /> +<b>Colored Wrapper and Text Illustrations Drawn by HARRY L. SMITH</b><br /> +————————————————————<br /></div> +<p>A delightful and unusual series of bird and insect +stories for boys and girls from three to eight years old, +or thereabouts.</p> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF JOLLY ROBIN</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Jolly Robin spreads happiness everywhere with his merry song.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF OLD MR. CROW</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>A wise bird was Mr. Crow. He'd laugh when any one tried to catch him.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF SOLOMON OWL</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Solomon Owl looked so solemn that many people thought he knew +everything.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF JASPER JAY</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Jasper Jay was very mischievous. But many of his neighbors liked him.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF RUSTY WREN</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Rusty Wren fought bravely to keep all strangers out of his house.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF DADDY LONG-LEGS</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Daddy Long-Legs could point in all directions at once—with his different +legs.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF KIDDIE KATYDID</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>He was a musical person and chanted all night during the autumn.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF BETSY BUTTERFLY</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Betsy spent most of her time among the flowers.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF BUSTER BUMBLEBEE</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Buster was clumsy and blundering, but was known far and wide.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF FREDDIE FIREFLY</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Freddie had great sport dancing in the meadow and flashing his light.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF BOBBY BOBOLINK</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Bobby had a wonderful voice and loved to sing.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF CHIRPY CRICKET</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Chirpy loved to stroll about after dark and "chirp."</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF MRS. LADYBUG</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Mrs. Ladybug loved to find out what her neighbors were doing and to +give them advice.</p></div> + +<div class='center'>————————————————————<br /> +<span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span><br /> +————————————————————<br /></div> + + + + +<h2>SLUMBER-TOWN TALES</h2> + +<div class='center'>(Trademark Registered.)</div> + +<h3>By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY</h3> + +<div class='center'>AUTHOR OF THE<br /> +SLEEPY-TIME TALES and TUCK-ME-IN TALES<br /> + +<div class='center'>————————————————————<br /> +<b>Colored Wrapper and Text Illustrations Drawn by HARRY L. SMITH</b><br /> +————————————————————<br /></div> +<p>These are fascinating stories of farmyard +folk for boys and girls from about four to +eight years of age.</p> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF MISS KITTY CAT</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>When Mrs. Rat saw Miss Kitty Cat washing her face, she knew +it meant rain. And she wouldn't let her husband leave home +without his umbrella.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF HENRIETTA HEN</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Henrietta Hen was an empty-headed creature with strange notions. +She never laid an egg without making a great fuss about it.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF THE MULEY COW</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Muley Cow belonged to Johnnie Green. He often milked +her; and she seldom put her foot in the milk pail.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF TURKEY PROUDFOOT</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>A vain fellow was Turkey Proudfoot. He loved to strut about +the farmyard and spread his tail, which he claimed was the most +elegant one in the neighborhood.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF PONY TWINKLEHEELS</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Pony Twinkleheels trotted so fast you could scarcely tell one foot +from another. Everybody had to step lively to get out of his way.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF OLD DOG SPOT</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Old dog Spot had a keen nose. He was always ready to chase the +wild folk. And he always looked foolish when they got away from +him.</p></div> + +<div class='unindent'>THE TALE OF GRUNTY PIG</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Grunty pig was a great trial to his mother. He found it hard +not to put his feet right in the feeding trough at meal time.</p></div> + +<div class='center'>————————————————————<br /> +<span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span><br /> +————————————————————<br /></div> + + + + +<table class="backcover" summary="backcover"> +<tr><td align='center'><br /><br /><br /><br /> +<span class="smcap"><big>Sleepy-Time Tales</big></span><br /> + +<div class='center'><small>(Trademark Registered)</small><br /> +—————<br /> +By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY<br /> + +<i><small>Wrappers and illustrations in color.</small></i><br /> + +<i><small>Drawings by HARRY L. SMITH</small></i><br /></div> + +<div class="blockquot2"><big>T</big>HESE little books for little people tell of the adventures +of the four-footed creatures of our American woods +and fields in an amusing way which delights small two-footed +human beings; and at the same time, in the shortcomings of +Cuffy Bear and his neighbors, children are quick to recognize +their own faults and to take home the obvious lessons.</div> +<div class='center'>—————<br /> +<span class='smcap'><big>Tuck-Me-In Tales</big></span><br /> +<small>(Trademark Registered)</small><br /> +—————<br /> +By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY<br /> + +<i><small>Wrappers and illustrations in color.</small></i><br /> + +<i><small>Drawings by HARRY L. SMITH</small></i></div> + +<div class='blockquot2'><big>T</big>HE stories of Jolly Robin, Old Mr. Crow and the other +birds are as unusual as they are delightful, since this is +almost the first time these feathered friends of the kiddies +have appeared in print. These bird stories, like the Sleepy-Time +animal stories, are based upon actual natural history +facts, but while the youngster eagerly listens to them, a moral +foundation, of deeper importance than that in natural history, +is being laid.</div> +<div class='center'>—————<br /> +<span class='smcap'><big>Slumber-Town Tales</big></span><br /> + +(Trademark Registered)<br /> +—————<br /> +BY ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY<br /> + +<i><small>Wrappers and illustrations in color.</small></i><br /> + +<i><small>Drawings by HARRY L. SMITH</small></i></div> + +<div class="blockquot2"><big>T</big>HE kiddies will love these fascinating stories of Farmyard +Folk, which tell of the daily doings of Muley Cow, +Old Dog Spot, and their companions. These tales will show +them that they have much in common with Henrietta Hen +and the others, and will develop in them a wholesome respect +for those good friends.</div> +<div class='center'>—————<br /> +<span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap, New York</span></div> +<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td> +</tr></table></div> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 517px;"> +<img src="images/backendpapers1.jpg" width="517" height="800" alt="Back Endpapers Left" title="Back Endpapers Left" /> +</div> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 522px;"> +<img src="images/backendpapers2.jpg" width="522" height="800" alt="Back Endpapers Right" title="Back Endpapers Right" /> +</div><hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p></div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Tale of Benny Badger, by Arthur Scott Bailey + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF BENNY BADGER *** + +***** This file should be named 24589-h.htm or 24589-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/5/8/24589/ + +Produced by Joe Longo, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Tale of Benny Badger + +Author: Arthur Scott Bailey + +Illustrator: Harry L. Smith + +Release Date: February 13, 2008 [EBook #24589] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF BENNY BADGER *** + + + + +Produced by Joe Longo, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + +THE TALE OF BENNY BADGER + + + + +_SLEEPY-TIME TALES_ + +(Trademark Registered) + +BY ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY + +AUTHOR OF _TUCK-ME-IN TALES_ + +(Trademark Registered) + + + THE TALE OF CUFFY BEAR + THE TALE OF FRISKY SQUIRREL + THE TALE OF TOMMY FOX + THE TALE OF FATTY COON + THE TALE OF BILLY WOODCHUCK + THE TALE OF JIMMY RABBIT + THE TALE OF PETER MINK + THE TALE OF SANDY CHIPMUNK + THE TALE OF BROWNIE BEAVER + THE TALE OF PADDY MUSKRAT + THE TALE OF FERDINAND FROG + THE TALE OF DICKIE DEER MOUSE + THE TALE OF TIMOTHY TURTLE + THE TALE OF MAJOR MONKEY + THE TALE OF BENNY BADGER + +[Illustration: Benny doesn't like Mr. Coyote's singing.] + + + + +_SLEEPY-TIME TALES_ (Trademark Registered) + + +THE TALE OF BENNY BADGER + +BY + +ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY + + Author of + "TUCK-ME-IN TALES" + (Trademark Registered) + + ILLUSTRATED BY + HARRY L. SMITH + + + NEW YORK + GROSSET & DUNLAP + PUBLISHERS + Made in the United States of America + + COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY + GROSSET & DUNLAP + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER PAGE + + I A GREAT DIGGER 1 + + II HUNTING FOR SOMETHING 7 + + III NO ONE AT HOME 12 + + IV MR. COYOTE SINGS 17 + + V SPEAKING OF GROUND SQUIRRELS 23 + + VI STRANGE PARTNERS 28 + + VII MR. COYOTE REMEMBERS 32 + + VIII A WATCHER AND A WORKER 37 + + IX A CARELESS HELPER 42 + + X THE SORE PAW 47 + + XI BIRDS' EGGS 51 + + XII THE PRAIRIE CHICKEN 56 + + XIII DON'T DO THAT 62 + + XIV A QUEER DISCOVERY 67 + + XV BENNY AND THE OWL 72 + + XVI SPOILING A GAME 76 + + XVII THE PRAIRIE DOG VILLAGE 81 + + XVIII SAVING THE DAY 86 + + XIX PLEASANT PRAISE 90 + + XX THE RANCHER IS ANGRY 94 + + XXI THE NEW HOME 99 + + XXII A BREAKFAST INVITATION 105 + + XXIII MR. DEER MOUSE IS TIMID 109 + + + + +THE TALE OF BENNY BADGER + + + + +THE TALE OF BENNY BADGER + + + + +I + +A GREAT DIGGER + + +Of course, Benny Badger had the best of reasons for living on the high, +dry plains. There he had for neighbors plenty of ground squirrels and +prairie dogs. And it is likely that he enjoyed their company much more +than they did his. + +If anyone had asked them, those little wild people would no doubt have +confessed that they wished Benny Badger was somewhere else. But their +wishes meant nothing to Benny--if he knew anything of them. Although he +couldn't help noticing that his small neighbors hurried into their homes +whenever they caught sight of him, Benny never took the hint and went +away. On the contrary, when he spied a prairie dog or a ground squirrel +disappearing into his burrow Benny was more than ready to go right in +after him. + +Now, the tunnels that led to the houses of those smaller folk were too +small to admit anybody as bulky as Benny Badger. But that difficulty +never hindered Benny. Digging was the easiest thing he did. He had a +powerful body, short, stout legs, and big feet, which bore long, strong +claws. And when he started to dig his way into somebody else's home he +certainly did make the dirt fly. + +He was so fond of digging that he even dug countless holes of his own, +just for the fun it gave him--so far as anybody could find out. And if +he had only left other folk's holes alone some of his neighbors would +not have objected to his favorite sport. For more than one fox and +coyote had been known to make his home in a hole dug by Benny Badger. +And, though they never took the trouble to thank him for saving them +work, they often chuckled about his odd way of having fun, and remarked +among themselves that Benny must be a stupid fellow. + +If they really thought that, they made a great mistake. To be sure, at +anything except digging he was slow and awkward. He was too heavy and +squat to be spry on his feet--to chase and catch his more nimble +neighbors. But no one that knew much about Benny Badger would have said +that his wits were dull. They were sharp. And so, too, were his teeth, +which he never hesitated to use in a fight. + +Left alone, Benny Badger--when he wasn't too hungry--was a peaceable +person. But if a dog ever tried to worry him Benny had a most unpleasant +way of seizing his annoyer with his powerful jaws and holding the poor +creature as if he never intended to let him go. + +Cornered, Benny knew no such thing as fear. He had the heart of a lion, +and jaws like a steel trap. And no wise dog ever let Benny get a good, +firm grip on him. + +Usually no one saw Benny Badger except at night. He seldom left his den +in the daytime except to sun himself. And even then not many noticed +him. Though he did not hide when anyone surprised him while taking a +sun-bath, he had a trick of lying flat in the grass without moving. And +it took a sharp eye to spy him when he lay low in that fashion. + +Curled up asleep, with his long fur on end, he looked too comfortable to +disturb. At least, that was what the ground squirrels thought. And if +one of those busy little fellows ever paused to stare curiously at Benny +when he was having a nap in the warm sunshine, Benny Badger had only to +awake and turn his head toward the onlooker to make him scamper for home +as fast as he could go. + +It was not Benny's face, either, that frightened the ground squirrels +away, though everybody had to admit that he had a queer one. A black +patch spread over his eyes and ran like the point of a V down his nose. +For the most part, however, he was of a grayish color, with still more +black running in streaks across his back. Underneath he was a--yes! a +dirty white color. But then, one must remember that he was forever +digging in the dirt; and there was very little water where he lived. +Anyhow, he was particular enough about one thing: his long hair was +always carefully parted in the middle from his head to his tail. + +And certainly that ought to show that he tried to keep himself looking +neat. + + + + +II + +HUNTING FOR SOMETHING + + +It was a pleasant summer's night. Anyone would have supposed that it was +just the sort of weather that Benny Badger might have chosen for digging +holes. But he must have thought that he had dug enough holes for the +time being. He wandered about as if he had lost a hole somewhere and +couldn't find it. And whenever he spied a hole made by one of his +smaller neighbors he stopped and looked at it closely. + +But none of them seemed to be the one he was looking for. At least, +Benny examined a good many holes, and then passed on again, before he +came to one at last that was different from all the rest. If you could +have seen the look of pleasure on Benny's odd face when he caught sight +of this particular hole you would have known at once that his search had +come to an end. + +Now, as a matter of fact, Benny Badger had not lost a hole. His strange +behavior did not mean that. It meant that he was searching for a _fresh_ +hole, which some ground squirrel had dug so short a time before that +there couldn't be much doubt that the small owner was then living in it. + +[Illustration: Mr. Ground Squirrel Escapes from Benny.] + +To be sure, Benny might have dug his way to the furthest end of each +hole that he found that night. And doubtless he would have enjoyed such +a pastime. But as for finding a plump ground squirrel at the end of +every tunnel--ah! that would have been a different matter. No such +pleasant sight would have greeted Benny's eyes. And on this evening he +wanted to find some such reward when his digging came to an end. + +He knew as well as he knew anything in the world that newly scattered +earth never lay strewn about the doorway of an _old_ hole. + +And that was the reason he passed by so many holes with hardly more than +a swift glance. + +But when at length he found what he had been looking for--a hole with +fresh brown dirt scattered carelessly around it--Benny Badger showed by +every one of his actions that he didn't intend to move on until he had +burrowed to the very end of it. + +A broad smile lighted up his queerly marked face. At least, he opened +his mouth and showed a good many of his teeth. And a bright, eager +glint came into his eyes; whereas they had had a somewhat wistful look +before, as if their owner might have been hungry, and didn't exactly +know where he was going to find a meal. + +Then Benny Badger looked all around, to see whether anybody might be +watching him. But there was no one in sight. And if there had been, +Benny Badger would have done no more than tell him that he had better +run along about his business, because it would do him no good to +wait--none at all. + +And if the onlooker had happened to come so near as to bother Benny in +what he intended to do, that unfortunate person might have wished that +he had taken a bit of friendly advice in time, and made himself scarce. + +But, of course, Benny Badger was not so foolish as to give any such +warning, for there was no one there to hear it. + + + + +III + +NO ONE AT HOME + + +Since there seemed to be nobody lurking in the shadows around him, and +watching him, Benny Badger turned to the ground squirrel's hole and +began to dig. How he did make the dirt fly! He scooped it up with his +big feet and flung it back in a shower, not caring in the least where it +fell. For he was interested not in what lay behind, but before him. + +In almost less time than it takes to tell about it, Benny Badger had +made the entrance of the tunnel so big that it swallowed his head and +shoulders. + +Now, when some people do anything they are forever stopping to see how +much they have finished, as if they hated to work and wished that they +didn't have to. But Benny Badger was not like them. He loved to dig. And +instead of wishing that it wasn't far to the ground squirrel's chamber +he kept hoping that it was a good, long tunnel, so that he might have +plenty of fun digging his way to the end of it. + +_He_ didn't pause to look back at the pile of dirt he had thrown behind +him. In fact, he didn't stop for anything--not even to take a long +breath--until he noticed a sound that made him pause and listen for a +few moments. + +It was a yapping, growling noise that caught Benny Badger's ear--a noise +that changed, while he listened, to a howl, and then suddenly ended as +it had begun. + +That call, coming as it did out of the night, would have frightened +many people. Not knowing just what it was, they might have thought it +sounded like the cry of a wolf. But Benny Badger showed not the least +sign of fear. On the contrary, he seemed almost angry with himself +because he had stopped even for a few moments to listen. + +"Oh, fudge!" he said--or something a good deal like that. "It's nothing +but a Coyote." + +And then he went to digging faster than ever, to make up for lost time. + +He hadn't been working long after that when Mr. Coyote's call made him +back out of the hole and listen once more. + +"Shucks!" said Benny Badger--or something like that, anyhow. "He's +coming this way." + +Anyone could have seen that Benny Badger was not pleased. But he +continued his work just the same. And he made the dirt fly even more +furiously than before, because he wanted to reach the end of the ground +squirrel's tunnel before Mr. Coyote arrived on the scene. + +It happened that Mr. Coyote was stalking slowly across the country in +the moonlight, headed for no place in particular. So Benny Badger had +time to burrow his way to the ground squirrel's bedroom without being +interrupted. + +And then Benny met with a sad disappointment. The owner of the burrow +was not at home! Benny knew that he could not have been gone long, +because the bed of dried grasses was still warm. + +It was plain that Mr. Ground Squirrel had awakened and heard the sound +of Benny Badger's digging. And there was no doubt that he had sprung up +in a hurry and rushed out of his back door, while Benny made his way +through the front one. + +Benny Badger tried to console himself with the thought that anyhow he +had had the fun of digging. But he was very hungry. And there was no +supper in sight anywhere. + +He was just about to renew his search for fresh ground squirrels' holes, +when who should appear but Mr. Coyote himself, with a knowing smile upon +his narrow face. + + + + +IV + +MR. COYOTE SINGS + + +Benny Badger was not at all glad to see Mr. Coyote. And after Benny's +ill luck, the smile upon Mr. Coyote's face made the disappointed digger +feel almost peevish. + +"What a beautiful evening it is!" said Mr. Coyote. "And what a fine +night for digging!" + +Benny Badger glared at the newcomer, making no attempt to hide his +displeasure at seeing him. + +"I don't notice _you_ doing any digging," he remarked with a sneer. He +had no use for Mr. Coyote, and he did not mind letting that tricky +fellow know it, either. + +But Mr. Coyote was not one to take a hint. If he knew he wasn't wanted +anywhere, it never made the slightest difference to him. And when Benny +as much as told him that he was _too lazy_ to dig a hole, Mr. Coyote did +not lose his temper even for a moment. + +"No--I seldom dig," he replied. "I don't want to spoil your fun. If I +went to work and dug and dug anywhere and everywhere there'd soon be +nothing but holes, no matter where you went. You'd have no place to dig +a hole yourself. And then you'd be pretty unhappy." + +Benny Badger hadn't thought of that. And he didn't know just what to +say, because if Mr. Coyote meant what he said, Benny wanted to say +something _pleasant_; and if Mr. Coyote was only joking, Benny wanted +to say something disagreeable. But before Benny had made up his mind how +to reply to Mr. Coyote's remark, his noisy friend began talking again. + +"Besides," Mr. Coyote added, "I haven't time for digging, because I have +to practice singing. . . . If you don't mind, I'll practice a song right +now." + +And without waiting to find out whether Benny Badger did mind or not, +Mr. Coyote began singing in the harshest of voices: + + +THE COYOTE'S SONG + + When Mr. Sun has gone to bed to seek his needed rest, + And Mr. Moon has climbed the skies to flood the plains with light, + And Mrs. Wind blows softly from the foothills in the west, + I love to sing my _yip-ky, oodle-doodle_ in the night. + + When morning comes I hurry home, to take my daily nap; + But when the spooky shadows fall and all the world is dark, + Oh! then's the time I'm wide awake and ready with a _yap_, + A happy, yappy _yip-ky, oodle-doodle_, and a bark. + + And none that hears my lovely voice, when startled from a dream, + Will soon forget how I begin my chorus with a growl; + Nor how I quickly run the scale, to end it with a scream, + A happy, yappy _yip-ky, oodle-doodle_, and a howl. + + Let them that do not know my ways cry fearfully for help, + And shake and shiver when they hear my loud and lusty call; + While I will merely jeer at them with something like a yelp, + A happy, yappy _yip-ky, oodle-doodle_, and a squall. + + And now I will explain to you--perhaps you've guessed before + The lesson that I always strive with might and main to teach-- + If you would frighten timid folk, alarm them with a roar, + A happy, yappy, _yip-ky, oodle-doodle_, and a screech. + +"How do you like that?" Mr. Coyote asked with a grin, when he had +finished. + +"Not very well!" said Benny Badger. + +Mr. Coyote looked just the least bit crestfallen. + +"Perhaps I haven't practiced the song as much as I should," he remarked. +And thereupon he started to sing it again. + +But Benny Badger stopped him quickly. + +"Don't!" he cried. And he held his paws, dirty as they were, over his +ears, as if he couldn't bear to hear that song another time. + +Mr. Coyote smiled agreeably. + +"I see," he said easily. "You don't enjoy music as I do. But I believe +we have one taste in common." + +"What's that?" Benny Badger asked him; for in spite of his paws being +over his ears, he heard what Mr. Coyote said. "What's that?" + +"Ground Squirrels!" Mr. Coyote replied, licking his chops as he spoke. + + + + +V + +SPEAKING OF GROUND SQUIRRELS + + +Benny Badger stared none too pleasantly at Mr. Coyote. He didn't like +his visitor. And he wished Mr. Coyote would go away. + +But Mr. Coyote seemed to be in no hurry to leave. On the contrary, he +appeared to have plenty of time to spare. And if he noticed the frown on +Benny Badger's face, he certainly acted as if it were the most agreeable +of smiles. + +"We were speaking of Ground Squirrels----" he began with a smirk. + +Benny Badger interrupted him quickly. + +"We were not!" he snapped. "I haven't _mentioned_ Ground Squirrels," he +growled. + +Mr. Coyote fell back a few steps. + +"Well, I know you're _interested_ in them, anyhow," he continued, trying +to act as if he were quite unruffled by Benny's rudeness. "You can't +deny that, for unless I'm mistaken, you've just caught one here." And +his bright eyes twinkled, for he thought he "had" Benny Badger there, +and it would be of no use for Benny to deny it. + +"You are mistaken," Benny Badger grunted. + +At that Mr. Coyote shot a swift look at him. Was that a shadow of +disappointment about Benny's mouth? + +"Did he get away from you?" Mr. Coyote inquired. + +Benny Badger had to admit that that was exactly the case. He explained +how he had found the Ground Squirrel's bed warm, but empty, when he +reached the snug bedroom. + +"I don't see how it happened," he told Mr. Coyote mournfully. + +That crafty fellow gave a short laugh. He rather believed he knew where +the trouble lay. And he said to himself--under his breath--that Benny +Badger was even more stupid than he had supposed. + +"Did you keep an eye on the Ground Squirrel's back door?" he inquired. +And he was so amused by something or other that he began to giggle. + +Benny Badger was afraid that Mr. Coyote was going to burst into song +again. And he couldn't help shuddering. + +"Are you going to sing?" he asked hastily. + +"I hadn't intended to," Mr. Coyote answered. "But of course if you want +me to----" + +"No! no!" Benny cried. "Please don't!" + +"Very well!" his musical friend replied. And then he returned to his +question. "What about the back door? Did you watch it carefully?" he +inquired. + +"How could I?" Benny demanded, with a snort of anger. "I can't dig away +at a Ground Squirrel's hole, with my head buried in it, and watch his +back door at the same time. If I stopped digging, and went around to the +back door, he'd be almost sure to run out through the front one. So I'd +be no better off. In fact, I'd be worse off; for I'd lose not only the +Ground Squirrel, but the fun of digging, too." + +Mr. Coyote turned his head away and smiled a wide, wide smile. It was +some moments before he could trust himself to speak without laughing +right in Benny Badger's face. + +"It's plain," he said at last, "that you need help. So I'm coming here +every night to assist you in the business of catching Ground +Squirrels." + + + + +VI + +STRANGE PARTNERS + + +Mr. Coyote's plan for helping him catch Ground Squirrels did not please +Benny Badger in the least. Up to that time he had always had fair luck +hunting alone. And he said as much to Mr. Coyote, in none too friendly a +tone. + +Though Benny thought he had made his feelings plain enough, it seemed as +if Mr. Coyote couldn't take a hint. So far was he from guessing that +Benny did not care for his scheme that he even suggested that it might +be a good idea if he brought a half dozen of his brothers along with +him. He was very cheerful about the whole affair--was Mr. Coyote. +Indeed, he appeared quite ready to arrange Benny Badger's business, +without ever a "By your leave," or "If you don't mind." + +But Benny Badger was no person to stand quietly by and let a scamp like +Mr. Coyote spoil his whole life. He shook his head in a most obstinate +fashion, giving his visitor fair warning not to go too far. + +"For goodness' sake, don't bring any of your brothers here!" Benny +Badger shouted. "I never could stand a crowd of your relations. It's bad +enough to have to listen to your six brothers when they're half a mile +away." + +Mr. Coyote took no offence at that remark. + +"Very well!" he replied. "No doubt they'd want to sing if they came here +to help you. And certainly their singing would interfere with your +digging--for of course you'd want to stop and listen to it." + +Benny Badger's only comment sounded somewhat like "Humph!" But Mr. +Coyote must have thought that Benny agreed with him. At least, he nodded +his head. And he went on to say that he would be glad to help Benny +alone, without calling on his brothers. + +Benny Badger made no further objection. To be sure, having one of the +Coyote family with him every night would be bad enough. But it was so +much better than having seven of them that he began to feel almost +pleased. Perhaps he was lucky, after all! And besides, he thought that +when Mr. Coyote came to help him catch Ground Squirrels that +good-for-nothing scamp would soon tire of digging. + +And then a terrible uproar broke the silence. It sounded as if a +hundred wolves--or maybe a thousand dogs--had fallen to quarreling a +mile away, growling and howling in the distance. + +As soon as he heard the noise Mr. Coyote pricked up his ears and sprang +to his feet. "I must leave you now," he said. "There are my six +brothers! They're going to have a sing. And I promised that I'd join +them. . . . Don't forget!" he added, as he flung a sly smile in Benny +Badger's direction. "I'll be here soon after dark to-morrow night." + +And the next moment he was gone. + +Benny Badger stood and watched him as he loped off across the moonlit +plain. And not long afterward a terrific racket--twice as loud as the +one before--made Benny bury his head in the place where he had been +digging. + +"Mr. Coyote has joined his six brothers," he said to himself. + + + + +VII + +MR. COYOTE REMEMBERS + + +The next evening, just at dusk, Benny Badger left his den and set forth +on his usual nightly ramble. + +By way of exercise, and for the sake of the fun it gave him, and to +improve his appetite, he dug a few holes. And by the time it was dark he +was hungry as a bear and ready to look once more for fresh holes made by +Ground Squirrels. + +He had decided not to wait for Mr. Coyote to join him, before beginning +his search. And he even hoped that Mr. Coyote had forgotten all about +his promise to meet him and help him hunt. + +But Benny Badger was to have no such good fortune as that. It was not +long before he heard Mr. Coyote calling to him. And though he made no +answer, thinking that Mr. Coyote might not be able to find him, in a few +minutes that sharp-faced gentleman came bounding up at top speed. + +"Here I am!" he cried, as soon as he spied Benny Badger. "I see you +started out without waiting for me. You didn't think I'd disappoint you, +did you?" + +"I was afraid you wouldn't," Benny answered--a remark that Mr. Coyote +seemed not to understand. For a moment or two he looked somewhat +puzzled. But he decided, evidently, that Benny _meant_ to be pleasant, +but didn't know how to be. + +"Now, then," Mr. Coyote said, while Benny Badger shuddered at his harsh +voice, "now then, where do you think we'd better look for a hole?" + +"For pity's sake, don't howl so loud!" Benny Badger besought him. +"You'll waken all the Ground Squirrels in the neighborhood if you're so +noisy." + +"Pardon me!" said Mr. Coyote very meekly, lowering his voice, but +promptly raising it again. "Do you know of any fresh holes around here?" + +Benny Badger said that he didn't. + +"Then you'd better hunt for one at once," Mr. Coyote declared, sitting +down on his haunches as if he hadn't the slightest notion of doing any +of the searching himself. "While you're looking, I'll sing a little +song," he announced. + +"You needn't trouble yourself to do that," Benny Badger told him +hastily. + +"Oh, it's no trouble at all, I assure you," Mr. Coyote replied. + +"Well--don't you do it, anyhow," Benny warned him. "If you sing, you'll +spoil everything, because I shall not be able to look for any hole." + +"I see," said Mr. Coyote, looking more than pleased. "You'd want to stop +and listen to me, of course." + +"It's not that," Benny Badger corrected him. "I may as well tell you +that I don't like your songs at all." + +"I have some that you've never heard," Mr. Coyote explained. + +"I don't want to hear them," Benny Badger informed him. "I may as well +tell you that your songs drive me almost crazy." + +It would not have been surprising if Mr. Coyote had flown into a great +rage. But he did not. Instead, he pretended to wipe a tear away from +each of his eyes. "It's a pity"--he sighed--"it's a pity that you don't +understand music. Some time I will teach you to sing--with the help of +my six brothers." + +Benny Badger showed no joy over that promise. But he felt relieved when +Mr. Coyote agreed not to sing that night. And then Benny set out alone +to look for a fresh Ground Squirrel's hole, leaving Mr. Coyote with his +face hidden in his pocket-handkerchief. + + + + +VIII + +A WATCHER AND A WORKER + + +Benny Badger searched for some time before he found a Ground Squirrel's +hole that looked as if its owner had finished it only a day or two +before. + +The place was so far from the spot where Benny had left Mr. Coyote that +he did not believe he could call loudly enough for his helper to hear +him. + +For a few moments Benny thought that perhaps he ought to go back and +tell Mr. Coyote that he had found a good place to dig. But he soon +changed his mind. + +"I'll just begin digging and say nothing," he remarked to himself. "And +perhaps I can catch this Ground Squirrel without Mr. Coyote's help." + +So he set to work. But he hadn't dug very far into the hole before he +heard Mr. Coyote's voice close behind him. That sly fellow had been +following him all the time. + +"I hope the owner of this hole is at home," Mr. Coyote ventured. + +At those words Benny Badger backed out of the hole and turned around. + +"I'll let you dig a while," he said generously. + +Mr. Coyote thanked him. But he answered that he couldn't think of +accepting Benny Badger's offer. + +"I know you would be disappointed not to do the digging yourself," he +explained. "And besides, you're a better digger than I am. So I'll let +you tear this tunnel open, while I go around to the back door and +watch. . . . You know, I have a very sharp eye." + +Benny Badger looked at Mr. Coyote narrowly. It occurred to him that +_both_ Mr. Coyote's eyes were very sharp. Furthermore, his nose was +sharp, too. And so were his teeth. Yes! on the whole, Benny thought, Mr. +Coyote appeared to be an exceedingly sharp person. + +"Very well!" Benny told him at last. "I'll do the digging, gladly--for I +need the practice that it will give me. You see, I haven't dug more than +a half-dozen holes to-night." + +Then he thrust his head into the opening he had already made. But before +he had begun to throw more dirt behind him he pulled his head out again +and called to his helper, who had moved a few steps away. + +"If the Ground Squirrel comes out through his back door, please call me +at once!" he cried. + +Mr. Coyote nodded his head over his shoulder and smiled. + +"I will," he agreed. "And I'll ask you not to forget to dig hard, +because you know I'll be watching hard. And it wouldn't be fair for one +of us to do less work than the other." + +Benny Badger replied that in his opinion Mr. Coyote's statement was in +every way reasonable. + +And then he began to dig. + +Benny would have made better time had he not stopped every few minutes +to listen; for he did not want to miss hearing Mr. Coyote's call. + +But his ears caught nothing more than a chuckle from the spot where Mr. +Coyote sat on his haunches in the grass, watching. + +[Illustration: Mr. Owl greets Benny very coldly.] + +"I can stand his chuckling--if only he won't sing!" Benny said to +himself. + + + + +IX + +A CARELESS HELPER + + +Stopping often to listen, Benny Badger did not reach the Ground +Squirrel's chamber half as quickly as he could have had he done nothing +but dig. + +And when he thrust his nose into the underground bedroom he found nobody +at home. The Ground Squirrel had fled, leaving his nest so warm that +Benny Badger knew he could not have been gone long. + +Benny turned away. But he was not so disappointed as he might have been, +for he remembered that Mr. Coyote was watching the back door. And +certainly no Ground Squirrel could escape his sharp eyes. + +Hurrying as fast as his short legs would carry him, Benny joined Mr. +Coyote, who still sat comfortably on his haunches. + +To Benny's surprise, his helper's eyes were closed, instead of being +fixed on the Ground Squirrel's back door. + +"Have you seen anything of the Ground Squirrel?" Benny demanded +anxiously. + +Mr. Coyote started, and opened his eyes. + +"Somebody came out a few moments ago," he replied. "But he disappeared +in no time." + +"That's too bad!" Benny Badger wailed. "He got away!" + +"Are you sure?" Mr. Coyote inquired. + +"Why, yes!" Benny cried. "It's as plain as the nose on your face." + +"I won't dispute you," said Mr. Coyote. + +"You'd better not!" Benny Badger snapped. "You have been very careless. +I don't believe you watched carefully enough. When I came up just now +you had your eyes shut." + +"I won't dispute you," said Mr. Coyote again. He was most polite--so +polite, in fact, that Benny Badger was ashamed to appear rude or +quarrelsome. + +But Benny couldn't help being disappointed over losing the Ground +Squirrel. And when, after he had dug to the end of three more tunnels +that night, the same accident happened three times more, he decided that +something would have to be done. It was clear that Mr. Coyote's eyes +were not sharp enough. He was not nearly so helpful as Benny had +expected him to be. "We'll have to change about," Benny announced at +last. "You must dig, while I watch." + +But Mr. Coyote promptly made a number of objections to that plan. He +said, with something quite like a sneer, that he had much sharper eyes +than any member of the Badger family that ever lived, and that he was +quicker than a hundred Badgers put together. And as if he hadn't given +reasons enough for disagreeing with Benny, he declared that he simply +couldn't do any digging that night because he had a sore paw. + +To prove his statement, Mr. Coyote held up one of his paws for Benny to +see. + +Benny looked at it. He couldn't discover that it was any different from +Mr. Coyote's three remaining paws. And he had just started to say so, +too, when Mr. Coyote interrupted him with an enormous yawn. + +"I'm getting sleepy," Mr. Coyote remarked. "It will be daylight before +we know it. And I'm going home to take a nap." + +So saying, he sprang up and stretched himself. And then he trotted off. +But he stopped before he had gone far and looked back at Benny Badger. + +"I'll be on hand to help you again after sunset," he said. + + + + +X + +THE SORE PAW + + +Sure enough! Just as Mr. Coyote had promised, he was on hand the next +night to "help" Benny Badger catch Ground Squirrels. + +Benny regarded Mr. Coyote somewhat coldly, as the two met in the +moonlight. + +"How's your sore paw?" he asked Mr. Coyote. + +Now, Mr. Coyote had just come trotting up without the least sign of +lameness. But all at once he began to limp. + +"My poor paw's no better," he told Benny, as a look of pain crossed his +face. + +"Let me see it!" Benny said. + +And Mr. Coyote promptly held out one of his paws. + +Benny Badger snorted. He seemed quite disgusted. + +"This is not the same paw you showed me last night," he cried. + +"My mistake!" said Mr. Coyote easily. And he pulled back that paw and +thrust forth another. + +Benny Badger bent over it for a moment. + +"It _looks_ all right," he grumbled. + +"I can't help that," Mr. Coyote snarled. "It couldn't hurt me any more, +no matter what happened to it." + +To Mr. Coyote's surprise, Benny Badger seized his paw in his powerful +jaws and held it in a viselike grip. + +"Ouch!" Mr. Coyote wailed, pulling back quickly--a move which only +caused him greater pain. + +"Your paw doesn't feel any worse, does it?" Benny Badger asked him as +well as he could, with his mouth so full. + +"Yes, it does!" Mr. Coyote howled. + +"Then you must have been mistaken when you said what you did only a +moment ago," Benny told him. + +"I must have been," Mr. Coyote admitted. . . . "Let me go!" he begged. + +But Benny Badger's jaws only closed the tighter. + +"I'll bite you if you don't stop that!" Mr. Coyote threatened. + +"My skin is very, very tough," Benny said. "And I can hurt you much more +than this if I want to." + +Mr. Coyote believed what Benny told him. So he made no more threats, but +began to whine piteously. + +"If you'll let me go I'll do anything you say," he promised. + +"Will you agree to keep away from me?" Benny Badger asked him. + +"Yes! Yes!" Mr. Coyote cried. "I promise!" + +"Good!" said Benny Badger. "I don't need your 'help,' as you call it, +any longer. And if you ever come near me again when I'm hunting for +Ground Squirrels, I'll----" + +Benny Badger never finished what he was saying, because he let go of Mr. +Coyote just then. And the moment Mr. Coyote felt himself free he leaped +away and tore off on three legs as if he were in a terrible hurry to get +somewhere else. + +"Much help I'd ever get from him!" Benny Badger grumbled to himself. +"He's too lazy to dig. But he isn't too lazy to grab the Ground +Squirrels that somebody else drives out for him." + + + + +XI + +BIRDS' EGGS + + +Though Benny Badger never cared much for foxes, he was willing, usually, +to stop and talk with one of that family--provided he wasn't too busy +digging to take the time for gossip. + +There was one fox who often strolled about the neighborhood. And though +Benny had many a chat with this gentleman, somehow Benny never learned +much from him. + +He was so sly that he let Benny do most of the talking, while he +listened. And when he did say anything, he preferred to ask questions. + +In time Benny Badger noticed that his chats with Mr. Fox were very +one-sided. And he made up his mind at last that when he next met that +crafty fellow he would ask him plenty of questions. He would make him +talk, or he would know the reason why. + +It happened that early on the following morning, when he was hunting for +Ground Squirrel's holes, he found himself face to face with Mr. Fox. And +Benny noticed that Mr. Fox was himself looking with great interest at a +fresh Ground Squirrel's hole. "Hullo!" Benny Badger exclaimed. "I hope +you haven't come here after Ground Squirrels." + +Mr. Fox looked much surprised. + +"No, indeed!" he said. "I'm only hunting for birds' eggs." + +"Birds' eggs!" Benny Badger repeated. "Have you found any?" + +Mr. Fox squirmed a bit. He did not like to answer questions. + +"Have you found any eggs?" Benny asked him again. + +"A few!" Mr. Fox replied. + +"Where?" Benny inquired. + +"Oh, in different places," said Mr. Fox. And he began to talk about the +weather--how dry it was, and how much the country needed rain. + +But Benny Badger was not to be fooled so easily. + +"You haven't really answered my question," Benny reminded Mr. Fox +bluntly. "I asked you where you've been finding birds' eggs. And I'll +thank you to tell me, sir." + +Mr. Fox gave a slight start. Benny's tone was none too pleasant. And Mr. +Fox certainly didn't want to quarrel with him. + +"If you wish to know anything about birds' eggs, why don't you ask a +Prairie Chicken?" he inquired. "She would know a great deal more about +eggs than I do." + +To Benny, that suggestion seemed quite worth while. There was no doubt +that what Mr. Fox said was true. And Benny wondered why he hadn't +thought of the plan himself. + +"Your advice," he told Mr. Fox, "is so good that I'm going to start +right now to look for a Prairie Chicken. It's almost dawn now. And the +Chickens will soon be getting up." + +So Benny said good-by. And Mr. Fox tried to say good-by, too; but +somehow he choked over the words, and began to cough so violently that +Benny Badger was quite alarmed. + +He waited anxiously until he saw that Mr. Fox was out of danger. And +then he left him. + +If he had looked back he might have seen his sly friend capering about +in the gray light as if something amused him hugely. And no doubt Benny +would have wondered what it could have been. + +"Prairie Chickens!" Mr. Fox was chuckling. "Much they'll tell _him_ +about eggs!" + + + + +XII + +THE PRAIRIE CHICKEN + + +After he left Mr. Fox, Benny Badger hurried here and there and +everywhere in search of a prairie chicken. + +He found one, after a time. But the lady wouldn't stop to talk with him. +The moment she spied Benny she _whirred_ into the air and flew off, +though she certainly must have heard him calling to her. + +But at last, just as red streaks began to shoot up in the eastern sky, +Benny caught sight of a stately dame who was so busy catching +grasshoppers for her breakfast that she hadn't noticed him. + +He did not dare go too near her, for fear of scaring her. So he called +to her in as gentle a tone as he could, saying, "Don't be alarmed, +madam! I only want to ask you a question." + +The prairie chicken stretched her neck as high as she was able, and +looked all around. + +"Here I am!" Benny sang out from a grassy hummock. + +The startled lady saw that he was not near enough to be dangerous. So +she asked him, with a proud air, what his question might be. + +"I'm interested in birds' eggs," Benny explained. "Have you any, madam?" + +The prairie chicken took a few steps towards him, in a very grand +manner. + +"Yes, indeed!" she answered. "I have a baker's dozen! They are the most +beautiful eggs I've ever seen--though perhaps I shouldn't say so. . . . +They're speckled with brownish specks," she continued. + +"How interesting!" Benny Badger exclaimed. "I must have a look at those +eggs. Where is your nest, madam?" + +And just then the prairie chicken did a strange thing. Without a word of +warning she sprang into the air and sailed away, leaving Benny Badger to +gaze after her, and wonder why she hadn't answered his question. + +He soon made up his mind that he would find her nest, anyhow. + +Now, since there wasn't a tree anywhere in the neighborhood, Benny felt +quite sure that the lady's nest must be on the ground. And since he knew +that all prairie chickens slept at night, he waited until dark before he +began his search, for he wanted to find Mrs. Prairie Chicken at home +when he called on her. + +So when night came once more, Benny Badger left his den and went forth +on his errand. + +He had gone only a short distance when he met his old friend Mr. Fox, +who had told him a little--and very little, too--about eggs. "Are you +having any luck to-night?" Benny Badger inquired. + +"What do you mean?" Mr. Fox asked him. + +"Have you found any eggs?" Benny questioned. + +Mr. Fox said something that might have been either "Yes" or "No." Benny +was not quite sure which it was. But since Mr. Fox shook his head, he +decided that it must be "No." + +"I think we're too late," Mr. Fox remarked. "The eggs must have all +hatched by this time." + +Benny Badger hastened to set Mr. Fox right. + +"That can't be possible," he replied. "I met Mrs. Prairie Chicken this +morning and she told me she had a baker's dozen of eggs in her nest." + +"You must be mistaken about that," Mr. Fox assured him. "Where did you +say her nest is?" + +"I didn't say," Benny answered. + +"No, of course not!" Mr. Fox corrected himself. "What I meant was, where +did Mrs. Prairie Chicken say it is?" + +"She didn't say," replied Benny Badger. + +"That's unfortunate," Mr. Fox told him. "It would have saved us a good +deal of trouble if she had explained where she lives." + +Then he told Benny Badger to go home, and not to trouble himself any +more. "_I_ will hunt for the old lady's nest," Mr. Fox declared. + +Benny Badger couldn't help thinking that Mr. Fox was a very kind person. +And he went away feeling that it was very fine to have a friend like +him. + +But after a while he began to wonder if he wasn't mistaken; for he +happened to remember that Mr. Fox hadn't said a single word about +letting him know when he had found the nest with the thirteen eggs in +it. + + + + +XIII + +DON'T DO THAT! + + +Benny Badger turned in his tracks and went straight back to the place +where he had left Mr. Fox. + +But Mr. Fox was nowhere to be seen. + +So Benny began asking everybody he met if he had caught a glimpse of Mr. +Fox that night. First he asked a white-footed deer mouse, who pointed +behind him and said that he had just seen Mr. Fox "over there." Then +Benny put his question to a frightened prairie dog, who claimed that he +had noticed Mr. Fox "over there," as he pointed in a direction exactly +opposite. And still another reported that he had noticed Mr. Fox in an +entirely different place. + +"That's odd!" Benny Badger said to himself. "How can he be in three +places at once?" And since he could not answer that question, he decided +to look in none of those three directions, but to try a fourth, because +he felt sure that none of the three could be the right one. And besides, +if Mr. Fox had really been where he was said to have been seen, he was +such a roving fellow that he would have moved on. + +Well, where he looked next, Benny found Mr. Fox. + +"What luck?" Benny asked that wily gentleman once more. + +Mr. Fox replied somewhat stiffly that he had nothing to say. + +"What's that on your mouth?" Benny Badger demanded suddenly. + +Mr. Fox hastily rubbed his paw across his mouth. + +"It can't be egg," he blurted. + +"_Egg!_" Benny Badger shouted. "I hadn't mentioned _egg_! But now that +_you_ mention _egg_, perhaps that's it." + +Mr. Fox looked most ill at ease. But he made no reply. + +"What's that clinging to your shoulder?" asked Benny Badger abruptly. + +"It can't be a feather," said Mr. Fox, nervously brushing off his +shoulder as he spoke. + +"A feather!" Benny Badger exclaimed. "I've said nothing about a +_feather_! But now that you speak of it, Mr. Fox, perhaps that's it." + +Mr. Fox looked very, very uncomfortable. And he murmured something about +"having to be on his way." + +"Wait a moment!" said Benny, as Mr. Fox turned aside. "What's that on +the back of your neck?" + +Mr. Fox tried in vain to look at the back of his own neck. + +"It can't be----" he began. + +But before he could finish, Benny Badger interrupted him. + +"Yes, it is!" he cried. "It's my teeth!" + +And so saying, he seized Mr. Fox on the back of his neck and began to +drag him over the grass. + +It became clear, at once, that Mr. Fox did not enjoy the sport. + +"Don't do that, friend!" he begged. "What are you trying to do, anyhow?" + +"I'm trying to rub the egg off your mouth," Benny Badger explained. + +"Please don't trouble yourself," said Mr. Fox. + +Then Benny began to shake him. + +"Don't do that, friend!" said Mr. Fox again. "What are you trying to +do?" + +"I'm only trying to shake the feather off you," Benny told him. + +"Don't trouble yourself," said Mr. Fox. "If you'll take those teeth off +my neck, that's all I'll ask of you." + +"Not yet!" Benny Badger replied grimly. "You're a robber. And I'm going +to teach you a lesson. . . . You _will_ rob birds' nests, will you?" + +To his great surprise, Mr. Fox began to laugh. + +"Why, you'd rob them yourself if you weren't so clumsy!" he cried. +"You're really no better than I am." + +Benny Badger hadn't thought of that. And the idea surprised him so much +that his mouth fell open. And of course Mr. Fox at once leaped aside and +ran off. + + + + +XIV + +A QUEER DISCOVERY + + +No one would ever have called Benny Badger a great traveller. He was +altogether too heavy to roam far from home upon his short legs. So it +often happened that he did not know all that went on in the +neighborhood. + +Of course, his watchful eyes took in almost everything that was in sight +of his den. But as for what was taking place just beyond the next rise, +that was an entirely different matter. Unless somebody chanced to stop +and gossip with Benny, sometimes several days would pass before he knew +what his neighbors were doing. + +Luckily, Benny Badger kept his ears open, when he was awake. + +And often he kept them half-open when he lay half-asleep, stretched out +in the grass not too far from his den, enjoying a sun-bath. + +One day when he was sunning himself the sound of voices snatched him out +of his drowsiness. And he kept quite still, to see what he could see, +and hear what he could hear. + +Soon three coyotes came sneaking through the grass, talking in hushed +voices--a thing they seldom did. Benny could hardly believe his own +ears, because he had supposed that if the coyote family spoke at all, +they always howled. + +But if the quietness of the coyotes surprised Benny, what they said +astonished him a great deal more. For Benny Badger learned that the +three cronies were headed for a prairie dog village just beyond the +next rise. + +That was most amazing news. Benny Badger hadn't known that there was a +prairie dog village so near his den. And for a moment he was tempted to +call to the coyotes and ask them if what they said was really true or if +they were only fooling. + +But he didn't think the three prowlers had seen him. So there seemed to +be no reason for their saying what wasn't so. + +Well, the moment they disappeared, Benny Badger jumped up and hurried +into his den. He would have followed the coyotes, but he decided it +would be better to wait. The prairie dogs would be too wary, with those +coyotes in their village. + +But later, after the coyotes had left--ah! then he would pay a visit to +the village himself. + +Towards evening Benny Badger crept out of his den and followed the trail +of the three coyotes. And sure enough! when he reached the top of the +rise he saw the mounds of the prairie dogs spread out before him. + +Though he saw no prairie dogs, he noticed an owl sitting upon a heap of +earth that had been tossed out around a hole. + +Benny Badger strolled up to the owl. + +"It's a fine evening!" said Benny. + +The owl merely stared at him, round-eyed, and made no reply. + +"I say, it's a fine evening!" Benny repeated in a louder tone. + +"Very well!" the owl replied. "You may say it as often as you wish. I'm +sure I have no objection. . . . But you don't need to come any nearer," +he added. + +Benny Badger stopped and squatted in the grass. He was glad to rest, for +he was--as has been said--no great traveller. + +"Is anybody at home?" he asked presently. + +"Somebody is," said the owl. + +"Then I'll dig right in as soon as I get my breath," said Benny Badger, +glancing at the hole. + +"Do you want to see somebody?" the owl asked. "For if you do, there's no +need of your doing any digging here." + +"Why not?" Benny inquired. + +"I'm somebody," the owl informed him. "I live here; and I'll be +disgusted if you go to tearing my house to pieces." + + + + +XV + +BENNY AND THE OWL + + +Benny Badger smiled at the owl. He thought he must be fooling. + +"You're a joker, aren't you?" said Benny. "But I never should have +thought it--you look so glum." + +The owl seemed somewhat displeased. + +"I've never made a joke yet," he declared, "though I've no doubt I +could, if I should ever want to." + +Benny Badger glanced from the owl to the hole, and then back again at +the strange fellow. + +"You don't mean to say you live here, in this hole?" Benny exclaimed. + +[Illustration: Benny Seized Mr. Coyote's Paw.] + +"Certainly; I do," the owl replied sharply. + +Benny Badger couldn't understand how that could be. + +"But this is a prairie dog house," he protested. . . . "Where's the +chap that built it? He must be around here somewhere." + +"I don't know where he is, and I don't care where he is," the owl +answered. "I drove him out of this house because I wanted to live here +myself. And I didn't trouble myself to see where he went." + +Benny Badger could hardly believe what the owl told him. But he noticed +that the fellow had a sharp beak, and sharp claws too. + +"I should think you played a joke on the prairie dog," he remarked at +last. + +"Should you?" said the owl. "If it _was_ a joke, it wasn't nearly as +big a one as I'll play on anybody that tries to drive _me_ away from +here. . . . I drove a snake away yesterday," he added. And he looked +very thoughtfully at Benny Badger, as if he were picking out a soft +place in which to sink his cruel beak. + +"You needn't be so touchy," said Benny. "I'm not going to disturb you. +I'm sure I shouldn't care to live in your house." + +The owl was a peppery fellow. He grew angry at once. + +"Why not?" he demanded. "What's the matter with my house?" + +"I'll tell you," Benny replied. "It's a second-hand one. And that's bad +enough. But it would be still worse if I took it away from you, because +then it would be third-hand." + +The owl looked daggers at him. + +"You've insulted me!" he cried loudly, swelling himself up--or so it +seemed. + +"Have I?" Benny Badger inquired. "Don't mention it! I'm sure you're +quite welcome." To tell the truth, he had not the least idea what the +owl meant. + +Naturally, Benny's words only made the owl angrier than ever. And he +became actually rude. + +"If I were you," he spluttered, "until I learned better manners I would +dig a hole somewhere, crawl inside it, and pull it in after me." + +Now, that was a new idea--for Benny Badger. And he liked it. + +"What fun that would be!" he exclaimed. "Then when I wanted to go out +I'd have to dig my way again!" + +The owl gave a queer cry. And looking quite discouraged, he flew off and +left Benny Badger sitting there in the grass. + + + + +XVI + +SPOILING A GAME + + +Though the owl left him in such a rude fashion, Benny Badger wasted no +time in thinking about what had just happened. There was something far +more worth while that claimed his thoughts. For the prairie dog village +still remained where it had been. And as Benny looked at it he found it +highly interesting. + +Even as he glanced at the doorway of the nearest house he caught sight +of a small head with bulging eyes, which stared at him without blinking. + +Benny moved nearer. And the head promptly vanished. + +Then Benny Badger smiled all over his face. + +"Ah!" he exclaimed. "Here's somebody else at home!" And he looked all +around at a number of other doorways. To his great delight he saw other +eyes peeping at him. + +"There's a lot of 'em at home!" Benny cried with great glee. + +He never felt happier in all his life. Everything was exactly as he +would have wished it. And he was just taking off his coat, and trying to +decide where he would begin to dig, when something happened that made +him look very peevish. And he slipped his coat on again, and lay flat in +the grass. + +A coyote had come bounding up at exactly the wrong time! And every one +of the prairie dogs promptly pulled his head out of sight. + +If he noticed Benny at all, the coyote must have thought him no more +than a heap of dirt. Anyhow, he paid no heed to Benny, but went stalking +through the village with his tongue hanging out of his mouth, looking +sharply out of the corners of his eyes at the houses he passed. + +There is no denying that Benny Badger was displeased. He wanted no +sneaking coyote at hand to spoil his plans. And he was all ready to +growl, when something made him change his mind and close his mouth. + +The coyote walked through the village and disappeared in the distance. +And here and there heads soon began to appear in doorways. + +But when Benny Badger stood up and drew nearer to them, they dropped +down again. + +The next moment a very angry lady rushed up and began scolding Benny +Badger at the top of her voice. It was Mrs. Coyote. "Go away from this +village!" she shrieked. "You're spoiling our hunting!" + +"Whose hunting?" Benny Badger asked her. + +"Mine and my husband's!" she snapped. "That was my husband that passed +by here a few minutes ago. Of course we know the Prairie Dogs will all +hide when they see him. But they're so silly that they're sure to bob up +and stare at him after he has gone along. And then"--she said--"then's +the time I dash up and grab them." + +Mrs. Coyote paused and glared at Benny Badger. "You've spoiled my game," +she said. "You went and showed yourself. And when they saw you, the +Prairie Dogs hid again." + +Benny Badger looked at Mrs. Coyote pleasantly enough. + +"Why don't you dig for them?" he asked. + +But Mrs. Coyote didn't appear to care for that idea in the least. She +threatened Benny Badger with dreadful things, if he didn't leave at +once. And then she hurried on to find her husband. + +Benny Badger was glad to see her go. He was not at all afraid either of +Mr. or Mrs. Coyote--nor of both of them together. And though he had +spoiled their game, he hardly thought that they would be able to spoil +his. + + + + +XVII + +THE PRAIRIE DOG VILLAGE + + +Having once found his way to the prairie dog village, Benny Badger often +visited it. + +And it is said, by those who know, that while he was there he always had +a much pleasanter time than the villagers themselves. + +So little did the prairie dogs enjoy Benny Badger's society that +whenever one of them spied Benny nearing the settlement he never failed +to jerk his tail up and down and call out the news. + +At the sound of the alarm--a high-pitched chatter--every prairie dog +who wasn't at home scurried for his hole as fast as he could scamper. + +Benny Badger always had to smile when he saw the villagers tumbling +through their doorways. They couldn't have done anything that would have +suited him better. Had there been a single one among the prairie dogs +that wasn't a dunce he would have run _away_ from his hole, outside the +village, to hide somewhere until Benny Badger left the place. + +But the prairie dogs were too stupid to think of such a trick. They knew +no better than to rush into their houses--which was exactly what Benny +Badger wanted them to do. + +And if anything happened now and then to make matters specially +unpleasant for the prairie dogs, it never troubled Benny Badger. He +seemed to grow fatter and happier than ever as time passed. + +But at last he heard a bit of news one day that made him feel quite +glum. + +A young deer mouse claimed to have overheard a rancher talking--the +rancher that lived about a mile from Benny Badger's home. And the deer +mouse reported that the man was going to get rid of the whole prairie +dog family. "He says they eat too much grass, and dig too many holes," +the deer mouse declared. + +Though the news upset Benny, and quite took away his appetite, for a few +moments, he began to cast about for a way to prevent such a sad affair. +If you could have seen him with a worried look on his face, anxiously +asking everybody he met to give him advice, you would have thought that +he felt very, very sorry for the prairie dogs. + +But such was not the case at all. Benny Badger was feeling sorry for +himself; for he knew that if the rancher drove the villagers away he +would miss them terribly. Benny had almost given up hope of finding a +way to put an end to the rancher's plan when the deer mouse told him +another bit of news. + +"He's going to build a new fence out this way--the rancher is!" the deer +mouse informed Benny. "It's coming this side of the Prairie Dog village. +And that's why the rancher wants to get rid of the Prairie Dogs." + +"How do you know this?" Benny Badger asked his small friend. "Have you +been eavesdropping again?" + +The deer mouse blushed. And since he made no reply, Benny Badger had to +believe him. + +Still, Benny could see no way out of his difficulty. And he went home at +day-break feeling quite out of sorts. + +But when he awoke, right in the middle of the day, a happy thought +popped into his head. + +He was so excited by it that he couldn't go to sleep again, though the +sun was shining brightly. + + + + +XVIII + +SAVING THE DAY + + +Benny Badger kept his bright idea to himself. But his neighbors knew +that he must have thought of something, because he seemed so +good-natured all at once. + +"He has a secret," they told one another. But they couldn't find out +what it was. Though they asked Benny Badger point blank what he intended +to do, he refused to tell them. He only smiled, and looked very wise. +And indeed he felt just as wise as he looked. + +For a time a good many of his friends spied upon him. Hidden behind +whatever was handy, they watched Benny Badger. + +But they soon grew tired of that. So far as they could see, he did +nothing but dig holes. And certainly that was nothing new for him. So +his friends went about their own affairs, leaving Benny to dig as many +holes as he pleased. + +Now, it pleased him to dig more holes, and bigger holes, than he had +ever dug before. And he dug them all on the _other_ side of the prairie +dog village--on the side toward the rancher's home. + +Benny seemed to have no fixed plan as to _how_ he should dig the +holes--whether in a straight row, or in a circle, or any other way. His +one idea seemed to be to dig a plenty--to dig as many as anybody could +possibly want for any purpose whatsoever. + +Now and then some passer-by would stop and look at Benny for a few +minutes, and snicker. + +"Are you looking for buried gold?" Mr. Coyote asked him. + +"What's the matter--have you been digging so fast that you can't stop?" +Mr. Fox inquired. + +Even the prairie dogs--timid as they were--ventured to jeer at Benny +Badger and demanded whether he had gone crazy. But Benny Badger never +paused to answer anybody. He smiled a good deal, however, as if he knew +something that nobody else suspected. + +Every morning at dawn he went home to rest. And every evening at sunset +he returned to the same place, just beyond the prairie dog village, to +take up his work where he had left it. + +The only remark Benny would make when anyone insisted on talking with +him was that he couldn't waste his time gossiping, because _he had to +save the day_. + +That seemed a strange statement. No one knew exactly what Benny Badger +meant by it. To be sure, he saved each day for sleeping--for he worked +only at night. But it was just as true that he saved each night for +working. So it was only natural that people should be puzzled. + +To everybody's surprise, Benny stopped his work as suddenly as he had +begun it. Exactly at midnight he paused, brushed the dirt off himself, +and slipped into his coat, remarking that he thought he "had saved the +day." + +With a hungry look on his face he turned toward the prairie dog village. +And there was a great scurrying then. + +"You ought to thank me!" Benny Badger called to the prairie dogs as they +dived into their holes. "I've saved the day! The rancher certainly won't +try to get rid of you now." + + + + +XIX + +PLEASANT PRAISE + + +Not one of the prairie dogs knew what Benny Badger meant when he cried +that he "had saved the day." + +Of course, they had heard that the rancher did not like their village, +and that he wanted to get rid of it--and them. But they couldn't imagine +how Benny Badger might be able to help them. Indeed, they rather liked +the rancher better than Benny, anyhow. And as for thanking Benny, the +only time they would ever feel like thanking him would be when he bade +them good-by and left the neighborhood, to return no more. + +But Benny Badger was quite unaware of all that. He complained that the +prairie dogs weren't treating him well. + +"They ought to send a committee to my house to thank me for what I've +done for them," he grumbled. "No one around here seems to understand me. +But the rancher certainly will. You'll see before long that he'll be +after me, to tell me what _he_ thinks of me." + +For several days afterward Benny lost a good deal of sleep by staying +outside his house while watching for the rancher to appear. And little +by little, from things he said now and then, his neighbors learned his +secret. + +They discovered that Benny Badger had been digging holes for the posts +of the new fence that the rancher was going to build! + +"When he finds those holes already made, he won't be so foolish as to +dig others," Benny explained. + +"But you've gone and dug them on the wrong side of the Prairie Dog +village!" somebody objected. + +"Of course I have!" Benny retorted. "I did that on purpose. Don't you +understand that when the rancher finds the holes he'll use them where +they are? You don't suppose--do you?--that he'll be so silly as to move +the holes?" + +The objector--a somewhat youthful coyote--slunk away with a foolish +simper. He saw that Benny Badger knew what he was talking about. + +"Since the Prairie Dogs' village will lie _outside_ the new fence, the +rancher won't pay any more attention to it," Benny Badger said stoutly. +"From this time on, the Prairie Dogs are quite safe--so far as the +rancher is concerned. . . . And that's how I have saved the day." + +Benny Badger's secret was out at last. And as fast as people learned it +they stopped to tell him that they had known all the time that he had a +fine plan of some sort, and that if there was anything they could do to +help him they would be greatly obliged if he would "count on them." + +Of course the work was all done. But perhaps Benny's neighbors hadn't +stopped to think of that. Anyhow he had never known them to be so +pleasant before. And he quite enjoyed their praise; for everyone told +him that nobody had ever suspected that he was so clever. + +It was lucky that Benny took the time when he did to listen to his +neighbors' pleasant speeches. Unfortunately they soon came to a sudden +end. + + + + +XX + +THE RANCHER IS ANGRY + + +Benny Badger lay motionless, with his long hair parted along the middle +of his back and flowing off his sides in such a fashion that a careless +passer-by would not have noticed that it was anything more than dry +grass. + +For several days Benny had been watching for the rancher. And now, at +last, he saw him coming, riding on a horse over the rolling plain. + +There was another man with the rancher. And as soon as Benny caught the +murmur of their voices he made ready to hear many pleasant remarks about +himself. He was only waiting until the riders should discover the holes +he had dug near the prairie dog village. + +Nearer and nearer came the men. And Benny Badger crouched lower and +lower. + +They had passed him, and ridden a bit nearer the village, when the +rancher suddenly pulled his horse to a stand. + +"Ah!" Benny Badger exclaimed under his breath. "He sees the new +post-holes that I've dug for him. And how pleased he'll be!" + +It was true that the rancher had just noticed the holes for the first +time. The moment he saw them he gave a great roar. + +"A badger!" he shouted. "We'll have to trap him. I can't have him +tearing my ranch up like this. These holes are the finest things in the +world to break a critter's leg in." + +Benny Badger could scarcely believe what his own ears told him. He +thought there must be a mistake somewhere. And when the rancher declared +that the badger that dug those holes was worse than a whole village of +prairie dogs, Benny was tempted, for one wild moment, to dash up to the +men and tell them exactly what he thought. + +But he remembered, in time, what the rancher had just said about +trapping him. And he never stirred until the two riders had moved along. + +When they had ridden beyond the next rise Benny Badger made a rush for +his hole. And there he stayed all the rest of that day. + +He didn't quite know what to do. And a little later he felt more +uncomfortable than ever when the rancher began to build his new fence +around the prairie dog village, without using a single one of the +post-holes that Benny had dug for him. + +All Benny's neighbors noticed what was happening. And they no longer +told Benny what a clever fellow he was. On the contrary, they laughed +slyly, and said things to one another whenever Benny Badger came near +them. + +When he growled at them they always pretended to be surprised to see +him, and asked him if he had "dug any post-holes lately." + +But Benny Badger never answered that question. Every time he heard it he +felt like moving away from the neighborhood. And when he came home early +one morning and found a _trap_ right in his doorway he made up his mind +then and there that matters had gone far enough. + +He turned away. And without stopping to tell anybody what he intended to +do, or where he was going--without even saying good-by--he stole away +across the plains to hunt for a new home. + + + + +XXI + +THE NEW HOME + + +When Benny Badger went wandering off to find a safer and pleasanter +neighborhood in which to make a new home for himself, he had no idea at +all as to where he should go. He only knew that he wanted to get a good, +long distance away from the place where he had been living. + +Wherever he decided to settle, it must be some spot where the ungrateful +rancher wouldn't be likely to find him, and set a trap in his doorway +again. + +On and on Benny travelled, until at last he met a spry young chap--one +of the deer mouse family--who stopped still and stared at Benny as if +he would like to speak to him, but didn't quite dare to. + +"Hullo!" said Benny Badger. "Do you live around here?" + +The deer mouse answered politely with a nod, as if he would like to +talk, if he weren't too shy. + +"Do you find this an agreeable neighborhood?" Benny Badger inquired. + +"Very!" the deer mouse replied in a thin, piping voice. + +"Is there plenty of good water nearby?" Benny asked him. + +"Yes, indeed!" the deer mouse exclaimed. "There's a water-hole right +over there!" And he pointed over his shoulder, without taking his eyes +off Benny Badger. He knew it was safer to keep a close watch of +strangers. + +Benny sat down. He had journeyed a long way and he was tired. + +"I'll go and have a drink as soon as I'm rested," he said. "I'm glad +there's good water here. This seems to be a pleasant place. . . . Are +there any good Gophers and Prairie Dogs in the neighborhood?" + +"Oh, yes!" the deer mouse answered. "But you needn't worry about them. +They won't harm you if you mind your own affairs. I've lived here a long +time; and they haven't touched me." + +"What about Owls?" Benny Badger wanted to know. + +The deer mouse looked solemn all at once. + +"There are a few," he admitted. "If you're thinking of settling here, +you'll have to watch sharp for them. I've had several narrow escapes." + +Benny Badger smiled. + +"I'd like to see the Owl that could hurt me!" he cried. "And as for +Gophers and Prairie Dogs, _I like them_. . . . This is the very place +I've been looking for. And as soon as I have rested a little longer and +had a drink of that good water I'm going to dig myself a den right where +I'm sitting now." + +The deer mouse pricked up his long ears at that. To the best of his +belief, no badger had ever lived in the neighborhood before. And if the +stranger was going to dig a hole, he intended to watch him while he +worked. + +"If you feel rested enough now, I'll show you the way to the +water-hole," the deer mouse said presently. He was impatient for the fun +to begin. + +Benny Badger stood up. + +"Lead on!" he commanded. "I'll follow." And then he yawned--for it was +already long past his usual bedtime. + +The deer mouse trembled slightly as he looked into Benny's great mouth. +And he took care to keep well ahead of the stranger all the way to the +water-hole, and back again, too. But he soon forgot his fear when Benny +Badger began to dig the new den. The dirt flew in such showers as the +deer mouse had never seen in all his life--except during a cyclone. + +Benny had begun to dig--as he said he should--in the exact spot where he +had sat and rested. But for one reason or another he soon changed his +mind, and started to dig a different hole a short distance from the +first one. + +Soon he moved again. And after he had begun no less than five holes, +only to leave each one unfinished, the deer mouse interrupted him with a +sharp cry. + +"Stop! Stop!" he begged Benny. "Please don't do that!" + +Benny Badger paused and stared at him in amazement. + +"What is it?" he asked. "What's the matter?" + +The deer mouse was all a-flutter. + +"Goodness me!" he exclaimed. "You'll have the whole neighborhood dug up +if you're not careful!" + + + + +XXII + +A BREAKFAST INVITATION + + +For a moment or two Benny Badger looked at the deer mouse without saying +a word. He told himself that here was a country person who couldn't ever +have travelled much, or he would have known better than to make such a +remark. . . . Spoil the whole neighborhood indeed! . . . Benny's lip +twisted up in something like a sneer. + +"Don't you worry!" he snorted. "I don't believe you ever saw a +first-class digger before. I'm not going to spoil the neighborhood. I'm +_improving_ it. I'm making a fine house here--probably the finest there +is for miles around." + +The deer mouse appeared ashamed. Of course he didn't like to seem +stupid. + +"But why do you dig in so many places?" he faltered. + +"That's my way," Benny Badger told him. "As soon as I get one den well +started I think I'd rather live somewhere else. But I don't mind +beginning again because there's no better exercise than digging." + +"No doubt!" the deer mouse agreed. "But I'm sure it would be much too +violent for me." + +He said no more, but looked on with a puzzled air until at last Benny +Badger had actually dug in one place long enough to make a deep den. + +When it was quite finished Benny Badger brushed the dirt off himself and +turned to Mr. Deer Mouse. + +"Come inside and see if my new house isn't the finest one you ever +saw!" he said. + +For some reason Mr. Deer Mouse did not seem eager to enter. To be sure, +he thanked Benny for the invitation, but he backed away a few steps and +said that he thought he'd better not look at the new house that morning. +"I--I haven't the time to spare," he mumbled. + +Benny Badger couldn't understand that remark. The white-footed gentleman +had had plenty of time to spend while watching him dig the den. And +Benny said as much, too. + +"That's exactly the point," said the deer mouse. "I've spent so much +time already that I've used it all up." + +Well, Benny Badger couldn't understand that either. + +"Used up all the time!" he cried scornfully. "Isn't there plenty more +where the other time came from?" + +"Oh, to be sure--to be sure!" said the deer mouse, who seemed ready to +agree to anything--except to Benny's invitation. "But there is another +reason why I mustn't visit your new home this morning: I'm hungry. I +haven't had my breakfast yet." + +Suddenly Benny Badger remembered that he was hungry himself. + +And as he stared at plump Mr. Deer Mouse a certain idea came into his +head. And he looked Mr. Deer up and down before he spoke. + +"I haven't had my breakfast either," he said at last. "I'm ready for a +good meal. Come right in and join me!" + +But something made Mr. Deer Mouse say, "No, thank you!" _Joining a +badger at breakfast!_ Somehow that had a dangerous sound. + + + + +XXIII + +MR. DEER MOUSE IS TIMID + + +Benny Badger began to lose patience with the deer mouse. He was one of +the most timid persons Benny had ever seen. And Benny was on the point +of telling him that he hadn't even the courage of a prairie dog. + +But suddenly a new idea flashed into his head. He thought he knew what +was troubling Mr. Deer Mouse. + +"When I asked you to join me at breakfast I didn't mean what you thought +I did," Benny announced. "You thought--didn't you?--that I meant to +breakfast on _you_." + +Mr. Deer Mouse admitted faintly that he had had some such notion. + +"How ridiculous!" Benny Badger cried. "Why, you're so quick that I could +chase you all day--and all night, too--without catching you. You're too +spry for me. So we might as well put such an idea out of our minds." + +Benny Badger sighed as he spoke. And he couldn't help noticing, once +more, how very, very plump Mr. Deer Mouse was. + +"What I meant by your joining me at a good meal was simply this," he +continued: "If you'll only stay with me, and follow me quietly wherever +I go, there's a good chance that you'll have a bone to gnaw before a +great while." + +All that seemed very pleasant to the deer mouse. + +"Thank you ever so much!" he murmured. "I'll be glad to accept your +invitation, so long as we aren't going to breakfast inside your new +home." + +So they set out. And for a time Mr. Deer Mouse followed Benny Badger all +around the neighborhood. + +Though Benny kept a sharp watch on all sides, he couldn't see +anything--or anybody--that promised a meal. And he decided at last that +he would have to make a change of some sort in his plans. + +So he sat down and beckoned to Mr. Deer Mouse to move nearer. + +"You go ahead of me, and I'll follow you," he said. "You're smaller than +I am, and perhaps you won't frighten the game the way I do." + +Mr. Deer Mouse did not seem to care for the suggestion. + +"You might make a mistake," he objected. "If I went ahead of you, you +might think that I was the game. And there might be a terrible +accident." + +Benny Badger sniffed. + +"Nonsense!" he cried. "If I did make such a mistake, I promise you that +I wouldn't let it happen more than once." + +But the deer mouse proved to be a stubborn chap. He declined flatly to +do as Benny wanted. + +"Very well!" said Benny Badger gruffly. "I'm sorry that you don't care +to make things as pleasant as possible for a newcomer. Where I used to +live, people couldn't do enough for me." + +"I believe you," Mr. Deer Mouse retorted. "In fact, I've heard that a +man even set a trap for you, right in your own doorway." + +Of course, that news came to Benny Badger as a great surprise. He had +had no idea that Mr. Deer Mouse knew anything about him. + +"Somebody has been gossiping!" Benny Badger growled angrily. "Who told +you that?" + +"Goodness me! Everybody has heard about it," Mr. Deer Mouse replied. +"Don't you know that news travels fast over the plains?" + +"Does it travel as fast as I do?" Benny Badger asked him suddenly. + +Before the words were out of his mouth he leaped at Mr. Deer Mouse. And +for one as heavy as he was, Benny leaped with surprising swiftness. + +But quick as he was, he was too slow to catch Mr. Deer Mouse napping. +That nimble fellow seemed to melt away right beneath Benny Badger's +paws. + +For one moment Benny was sure he had him. And the next moment he was +sure he hadn't. + +He couldn't see his small neighbor anywhere. In fact, it was a whole +week before Benny Badger set his eyes on him again. And to Benny's +amazement, Mr. Deer Mouse was just as polite as ever. He asked Benny how +he liked his new home, and if he had found the people in the +neighborhood as pleasant as he had expected. + +"My house is a fine one," Benny told him. "And I dare say the +neighborhood is as good as I could expect. Certainly there's a plenty of +Gophers and Prairie Dogs here." + +"I suppose"--said Mr. Deer Mouse--"I suppose some of them join you at +breakfast every morning." + +Benny Badger looked at him sharply. He was all ready to get angry. But +Mr. Deer Mouse was so polite, and seemed so respectful, that Benny was +ashamed to lose his temper. + +He actually winked at Mr. Deer Mouse. And he felt more cheerful than he +had since the rancher spoke ill of him. + +"I'm glad I moved," he told Mr. Deer Mouse. "This is a fine place. I'm +going to live here the rest of my life." + +And he did. + + +THE END + + + + +SLEEPY-TIME TALES + +(Trademark Registered.) + +By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY + +AUTHOR OF THE TUCK-ME-IN TALES and SLUMBER-TOWN TALES + +=Colored Wrapper and Text Illustrations Drawn by HARRY L. SMITH= + +This series of animal stories for children from three to eight years, +tells of the adventures of the four-footed creatures of our American +woods and fields in an amusing way, which delights small two-footed +human beings. + + THE TALE OF CUFFY BEAR + THE TALE OF FRISKY SQUIRREL + THE TALE OF TOMMY FOX + THE TALE OF FATTY COON + THE TALE OF BILLY WOODCHUCK + THE TALE OF JIMMY RABBIT + THE TALE OF PETER MINK + THE TALE OF SANDY CHIPMUNK + THE TALE OF BROWNIE BEAVER + THE TALE OF PADDY MUSKRAT + THE TALE OF FERDINAND FROG + THE TALE OF DICKIE DEER MOUSE + THE TALE OF TIMOTHY TURTLE + THE TALE OF BENNY BADGER + THE TALE OF MAJOR MONKEY + THE TALE OF GRUMPY WEASEL + THE TALE OF GRANDFATHER MOLE + THE TALE OF MASTER MEADOW MOUSE + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +TUCK-ME-IN TALES + +(Trademark Registered) + +By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY + +AUTHOR OF THE SLEEPY-TIME TALES and SLUMBER-TOWN TALES + +=Colored Wrapper and Text Illustrations Drawn by HARRY L. SMITH= + +A delightful and unusual series of bird and insect stories for boys and +girls from three to eight years old, or thereabouts. + +THE TALE OF JOLLY ROBIN + + Jolly Robin spreads happiness everywhere with + his merry song. + +THE TALE OF OLD MR. CROW + + A wise bird was Mr. Crow. He'd laugh when any + one tried to catch him. + +THE TALE OF SOLOMON OWL + + Solomon Owl looked so solemn that many people + thought he knew everything. + +THE TALE OF JASPER JAY + + Jasper Jay was very mischievous. But many of + his neighbors liked him. + +THE TALE OF RUSTY WREN + + Rusty Wren fought bravely to keep all strangers + out of his house. + +THE TALE OF DADDY LONG-LEGS + + Daddy Long-Legs could point in all directions + at once--with his different legs. + +THE TALE OF KIDDIE KATYDID + + He was a musical person and chanted all night + during the autumn. + +THE TALE OF BETSY BUTTERFLY + + Betsy spent most of her time among the flowers. + +THE TALE OF BUSTER BUMBLEBEE + + Buster was clumsy and blundering, but was known + far and wide. + +THE TALE OF FREDDIE FIREFLY + + Freddie had great sport dancing in the meadow + and flashing his light. + +THE TALE OF BOBBY BOBOLINK + + Bobby had a wonderful voice and loved to sing. + +THE TALE OF CHIRPY CRICKET + + Chirpy loved to stroll about after dark and + "chirp." + +THE TALE OF MRS. LADYBUG + + Mrs. Ladybug loved to find out what her + neighbors were doing and to give them advice. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +SLUMBER-TOWN TALES + +(Trademark Registered.) + +By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY + +AUTHOR OF THE SLEEPY-TIME TALES and TUCK-ME-IN TALES + +=Colored Wrapper and Text Illustrations Drawn by HARRY L. SMITH= + +These are fascinating stories of farmyard folk for boys and girls from +about four to eight years of age. + +THE TALE OF MISS KITTY CAT + + When Mrs. Rat saw Miss Kitty Cat washing her + face, she knew it meant rain. And she wouldn't + let her husband leave home without his + umbrella. + +THE TALE OF HENRIETTA HEN + + Henrietta Hen was an empty-headed creature with + strange notions. She never laid an egg without + making a great fuss about it. + +THE TALE OF THE MULEY COW + + The Muley Cow belonged to Johnnie Green. He + often milked her; and she seldom put her foot + in the milk pail. + +THE TALE OF TURKEY PROUDFOOT + + A vain fellow was Turkey Proudfoot. He loved to + strut about the farmyard and spread his tail, + which he claimed was the most elegant one in + the neighborhood. + +THE TALE OF PONY TWINKLEHEELS + + Pony Twinkleheels trotted so fast you could + scarcely tell one foot from another. Everybody + had to step lively to get out of his way. + +THE TALE OF OLD DOG SPOT + + Old dog Spot had a keen nose. He was always + ready to chase the wild folk. And he always + looked foolish when they got away from him. + +THE TALE OF GRUNTY PIG + + Grunty pig was a great trial to his mother. He + found it hard not to put his feet right in the + feeding trough at meal time. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +Sleepy-Time Tales + +(Trademark Registered) + +By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY + +_Wrappers and illustrations in color._ + +_Drawings by HARRY L. SMITH_ + +These little books for little people tell of the adventures of the +four-footed creatures of our American woods and fields in an amusing way +which delights small two-footed human beings; and at the same time, in +the shortcomings of Cuffy Bear and his neighbors, children are quick to +recognize their own faults and to take home the obvious lessons. + + + + +Tuck-Me-In Tales + +(Trademark Registered) + +By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY + +_Wrappers and illustrations in color._ + +_Drawings by HARRY L. SMITH_ + +The stories of Jolly Robin, Old Mr. Crow and the other birds are as +unusual as they are delightful, since this is almost the first time +these feathered friends of the kiddies have appeared in print. These +bird stories, like the Sleepy-Time animal stories, are based upon actual +natural history facts, but while the youngster eagerly listens to them, +a moral foundation, of deeper importance than that in natural history, +is being laid. + + + + +Slumber-Town Tales + +(Trademark Registered) + +BY ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY + +_Wrappers and illustrations in color._ + +_Drawings by HARRY L. SMITH_ + +The kiddies will love these fascinating stories of Farmyard Folk, which +tell of the daily doings of Muley Cow, Old Dog Spot, and their +companions. These tales will show them that they have much in common +with Henrietta Hen and the others, and will develop in them a wholesome +respect for those good friends. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, NEW YORK + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + +Page 34, "you do" changed to "do you" (where do you think) + +Page 56, "pairie" changed to "prairie" (of a prairie chicken) + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Tale of Benny Badger, by Arthur Scott Bailey + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF BENNY BADGER *** + +***** This file should be named 24589.txt or 24589.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/5/8/24589/ + +Produced by Joe Longo, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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