“Where are the other members of the family?” asked the polite little rabbit. You see, not having made a call for so long a time he had forgotten all their names.
“Oh, they’re cutting down some small trees,” replied Busy Beaver. “As we live on land and in the water, we must have two houses. Then, too, as the children grow up we need more, which keeps us busy all the time.”
“Well, remember me to everybody,” said the little bunny boy rabbit, and away he hopped, lipperty lip, clipperty clip until all of a sudden, just like that, whom should he see but the Farmer’s Boy with a gun over his shoulder.
“Dear, dear!” thought the little rabbit. “Is he going to shoot Busy Beaver, I wonder. His nice fur coat would make a warm pair of gloves for the cold weather. I guess I’ll warn Busy Beaver.”
So back hopped this kind-hearted little bunny, clipperty clip, lipperty lip, looking over his shoulder now and then and sometimes oftener to see if the Farmer’s Boy was following him.
“What are you back for?” asked Busy Beaver, as all out of breath Little Jack Rabbit stopped again at the Shady Forest Pool.
“S-s-sh!” whispered the little bunny. “The Farmer’s Boy is out with his gun. I just saw him up the Shady Forest Trail. That’s why I hopped back.”
“Very kind of you,” answered the little beaver. “Guess I’ll take to the water. I’ve got a nice hiding place not far from here. Good-by,” and away he swam in his nice chestnut brown fur coat, leaving the boy bunny rabbit all alone. Dear me! I hope the Farmer’s Boy doesn’t shoot him before I get him safely away, too.
“What was that?” thought the Farmer’s Boy as Little Jack Rabbit hopped into a hollow stump near by. “What was that?” repeated the curious boy, tiptoeing over to the Shady Forest Pool. I guess he had heard the slap of the little beaver’s long flat tail as he dived down under the water to reach his front door.
Pretty soon the Farmer’s Boy turned away and walked up to the hollow stump. He was just going to thrust in his arm when he heard a great splashing in the Shady Forest Pool. My goodness, how Busy Beaver was flapping the water with his big flat tail, sending the spray flying in all directions.