STORY III
Billy the Mink
Billy the Mink was a cousin to Gray Back the Weasel, but being much larger and more ferocious when attacked he was more to be feared. In addition to this he could swim like a duck and dive like a stone. In fact, he preferred the water to the dry land, and was very proud of his fur coat. Sometimes he would sit on the bank of the river in the sun just to admire the beautiful, glossy fur that nature had given him. With the sun sparkling on it when wet or dry, it certainly was something to admire and envy.
Billy the Mink, unlike his namesake Billy the Porcupine, had the bad habit of sometimes raiding rabbit burrows for food, and if there were young bunnies in the nest he made away with some of them in spite of the protests of their fond parents. This habit had caused him to be feared and hated by the rabbits, which was a very natural thing.
Roaming through the woods one day shortly after his adventure with Browny the Muskrat, Bumper discovered Billy the Mink sunning himself near his home. He really didn’t want anything to do with Billy on account of his bad habits, and he was going to pass him without a word; but Billy caught sight of Bumper, and was suddenly envious of the beautiful fur of the white rabbit.
“I never saw a white rabbit before,” he hailed. “Come nearer and let me see your beautiful fur.”
Bumper wished to be polite and hopped closer.
“It really is white,” Billy added, admiring the fur. “I suppose you’re mighty proud of it.”
“I’m very fond of it, and glad I have it,” replied Bumper modestly. “Yes,” honestly, “I’m proud of it. I don’t think there’s any harm in saying that. We have a right to be proud of the dress nature gave us—a little proud, I mean, but not too much as some people are.”
Billy sneered, for he took this as a hint at his own well-known pride. “I suppose you mean by that I’m too proud,” he said.
“I wasn’t thinking of any one in particular,” replied Bumper. “I wouldn’t be so impolite as that.”