"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.