WOODLAND STORIES 



8ii 



himself, and he called again, several 

 times. 



The grass snake that had been sunning 

 himself on the bank was not quite sure 

 that the cry boded him any good ; his 

 family had been persecuted for genera- 

 tit)ns. and he felt it was impossible to 

 remain where he was with any sense of 

 security. So he glided away through 

 the grass and was lost to sight. But Mrs. 

 Doe, the wife of a Buck Rabliit who lived 

 in the warren, came out of her stop a 

 few 3-ards away from the Foxes' earth, 

 and her eight little ones followed. The 

 wild parsley was still witliin reach of their 

 teeth, and they had recently learned to 

 use them. So they started to nibble the 

 gi-een stuff, keeping close to Mrs. Doe 

 the while. 



" Cuckoo ! " repeated the bird in the 

 pink thorn. " How are you all ? I've 

 come a long way over the sea to visit 

 you." 



" Did you see any men or dogs about, 

 sir ? " said Mrs. Doe, anxiously. " I've 

 a young family, and I know what trouble 

 is. One can't be too careful here." 



" The men are working in the big field 

 behind the brook." said the Cuckoo ; 



" I saw them as I ])assed, but they did 

 not look up, they were too busy hoeing. 

 There are no dogs nearer than the farm- 

 yard, and they are on the chain." 



" Thank you, sir," said Mrs. Doe; and 

 then turning to her children she added, 

 " If I stani]) my hind legs on the ground, 

 run back to the stop as quickly as you 

 can; don't stay to ask questions or to 

 look about you." 



" What is trouble ? " said the 3'oung 

 Fox, " and where does it come from, and 

 what does it look like ? " 



" Where are your parents ? " said Mrs. 

 Doe anxiously, as though ignoring his 

 question. 



" Down in the earth behind me." said 

 the Fox Cub. " Father brought home a 

 nice big chicken, and mother brought 

 some rats for us, so we all had a good 

 meal, and now father is fast asleep. 

 Mother is watching by his side, but she 

 said she wouldn't come out much before 

 sundown because she is so tired." 



" They know what trouble is," said 

 Mrs. Rabbit, " and you will learn all 

 about it some day. Wait till you are 

 just a little older." 



" This isn't the time for trouble," 



A LITTER OF FOX CLUS. 



