But Rusty Wren declined to change his opinion.
"There's only one way to be sure; and that's to ask Grandfather Mole!" little Mr. Chippy cried.
"It wouldn't do any good," Rusty told him. "Grandfather Mole won't answer[p. 41] any questions. But he's in some sort of trouble. There's no doubt of that."
They looked down at Grandfather Mole, who was still scurrying frantically about the garden. If he heard their talk he did nothing to let them know it. And they had begun to think that they would never know his secret when a person who looked somewhat like Grandfather Mole thrust her head and shoulders out of a hole in the ground.
"That"—Rusty Wren whispered—"that is Grandfather Mole's daughter. I know, for I've seen her before." And listening sharply, the bird people heard her say, "Don't worry, Father! I've found them."
Grandfather Mole didn't wait for anything more. He didn't even wait until he had found the opening in which his daughter had appeared. He began to[p. 42] dig right where he stood. And he was out of sight in short order.
Although the bird people didn't know it, he was anxious to reach his grandchildren. He had them out for a stroll through his underground galleries; and walking behind him they had taken a wrong turn when Grandfather Mole didn't know it. After looking for them in vain down below he had feared that they might have found their way into the open air. And that was why he was running about in such a distracted fashion.