24 The Woodchuck 
keep close to her. They tried to imitate her in every- 
thing, and when she nibbled a clover leaf they fol- 
lowed her example, and soon the sharp little teeth 
had learned to cut the juicy leaves. 
The real object of their first outing, that of filling 
their little stomachs, was soon accomplished, and 
then they began playing about in the grass very 
much like puppies; but the watchful mother was 
careful not to let them wander far from the entrance 
of their home. Suddenly her trained ear caught the 
sound of something approaching and she lost no 
time in hustling the little ones into the burrow, for 
it might be old Rover racing across the meadow, and 
possibly he would turn their way or wind them if 
he came close. Sure enough! they were scarcely safe 
when the dog appeared in full sight over a knoll, 
making straight for them! The cubs could have 
traveled only a part of the tunnel before they heard 
the deep breathing of the dog at the mouth of the 
burrow. The exertion and the excitement must have 
made their tiny hearts beat fast, as for the first time 
in their lives they learned what it is to be frightened. 
This was only the beginning of their education, for 
day after day they came out of their burrow and 
when they scrambled back, something had_ been 
added to their little stock of woodchuck knowledge. 
