“Then if we’re going to look further come on right away,” said Mrs. Hoot. “We’ve got to find a suitable place before morning.”
After a few more words they flew away. Belt heard them go, and a great relief came to him. It seemed too good to be true. He wasn’t going to be eaten up after all. He was so thankful that he said to himself before he dropped off to sleep again, “In the morning I’ll tell Downy he can have the hole. I’ll confess all to him.”
But when the sun appeared, and Belt peeped out of the hole to see the light of a new day, he was so pleased with the beauty of the woods that he regretted he had decided to give up his home to Downy. For a moment his decision wavered. Then he said: “No, I’ll keep my word. I’ll tell Downy at once.”
He flew away into the woods until he found his cousin. Downy listened to his story, and then shook his head:
“You deserve the scare you got, Belt, but I forgive you for telling me that story. However, I don’t want the hole. I’ve found one that suits me better. You can have the old one.”
After a few more words they flew away
So it really worked out for the best, and Belt took permanent possession of the old hole, which he took good care not to enlarge so Hoot could get in, and Downy remained in happy possession of the new one he had found.
In the next story you will hear how Killer the Snake broke the truce in the woods and got himself in trouble.