STORY XVI
What Buster Did to Loup, Sneaky and Mr. Fox
Bumper and Buster reached the pit where Loup, Sneaky and Mr. Fox were prisoners shortly before sunrise. They had started early, but it was some distance through the woods. Buster crashed clumsily through the bushes, and then crossed the clearing to the brink of the pit. He looked down, and saw all three prisoners at the bottom looking very sad and dejected.
“Hello, Loup!” he called. “Nice place to spend the night! Had your breakfast yet?”
Loup glared back sullenly, for he knew that Buster understood his plight.
“Got good company down there, too, Loup,” Buster added. “I see Sneaky and Mr. Fox in the corner. But why so gloomy? Oh, I see, you can’t get out! Got caught in a trap. Well, well, that’s too bad now, isn’t it?”
He sat down astride a fallen tree. He enjoyed the difficulties of the three cowed and frightened animals.
“Bumper here told me how Mr. Fox frightened him and made him jump in the pit,” he continued after a while, “and then how he jumped in after him. Then along came Sneaky and jumped in to eat Mr. Fox up, and I suppose you tried to get Sneaky, Loup. Well, well, that’s a big joke.”
“You wouldn’t think so if you were down here,” said Mr. Fox. “Oh, Buster, if you’ll help me to get out I’ll always be your friend, and do anything you ask of me.”
“Huh! I couldn’t trust you, Mr. Fox.”
“Oh, yes, you could, Buster! I’ll promise on my heart that I’ll do what you ask of me.”