"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.