40 THE ROMANCE OF EVERIFARM 



"I am awfully grateful to you, Mr. Rooster, for 

 saving my life. Bob White said that you were such 

 a big-hearted fellow, and would help us out if we 

 needed you, and we did need you so badly." 



"Oh, shucks! Don't mention it. I needed that 

 cut worm in my business anyway, to balance my ra- 

 tion. Any time you need me just wave your arms, 

 and kick up a fuss and I will be right over. I have 

 my family over on the little hill in the pasture," 

 replied the big rooster, as he soared away on a pair 

 of wonderful wings. Every morning the big rooster 

 would fly over on the nearby hill and wake up the 

 three brothers with his booming, crowing, and strut- 

 ting, so they felt that they had a real friend close 

 at hand at all tunes. 



During the succeeding days and weeks the three 

 brothers saw many amusing things, and also some 

 real tragedies. It was a revelation to see the great 

 quantity of chinch bugs, corn-bill bugs and the like, 

 that Bob White would eat during a day. They 

 never had a chance to get away. Then Stubby the 

 field mouse became absorbed in digging out a nearby 

 hill of corn and did not notice the stealthy approach 

 of Blue Racer the snake, who with a rush gobbled 

 poor Stubby with his powerful jaws and then spent 

 most of the forenoon swallowing him whole. 



