“The idea!” said Billy, uncurling a little more. “I guess you don’t own the whole woods, Groundy.”
“No, I don’t claim any such thing, Billy,” replied Groundy. “But I do claim this place. Why shouldn’t I? I discovered it first, and started to make my nest here.”
“You did, eh?” snapped Washer. “I was the first one down here, and it’s mine.”
“I discovered it first, and it’s mine,” echoed Billy.
Bumper saw that the dispute was likely to cause hard feeling between the three friends, and he wished to settle it in a friendly way.
“When did you find it, Groundy?” he asked. “And were you down here before?”
“Yes, hours ago.”
“Well, I’ve been here for ever and ever so long,” said Billy. “Washer knows that, for he’s been here too.”
“Yes, we came in here a long time ago, and Groundy wasn’t in sight then. I don’t believe he was ever here before. He’s just saying that to claim the hole.”
Groundy showed some impatience, and then spying something way down in the bottom of the burrow he smiled. Washer and Billy, who had joined together to dispute his right, looked in the same direction, but they could see nothing.