"All ready!" cried Toodle.
"Then here we go!" shouted Noodle, and down the mud slide they went backward.
But, oh, dear me! something happened. Just as they got to the bottom of the little slippery hill, old Mr. Chunky-lunky, the biggest, fattest beaver gentleman in the pond, came walking along. He was so fat that he couldn't see his shoes when he stood up straight and his neck was so thick he couldn't bend it, so of course he did not see Toodle and Noodle sliding right toward him.
The first thing he knew his hind paws were knocked out from under him, and down he came—"ker-flummux!"
"Ugh!" grunted old Mr. Chunky-lunky, and that was all he could say just then, for the breath was knocked out of him. He nearly sat down on Toodle and Noodle, who had bumped into him without in the least meaning to, and, if old Mr. Chunky-lunky had sat down on either of the beaver boys he would have squashed him flatter than a pancake. But this did not happen, I'm glad to say.
"Why—er—what—er—what happened?" panted old Mr. Chunky-lunky as he got up and brushed the dirt out of his ears.
"I—I guess we happened," said Toodle.
"You see, we were sliding down the mud-hill backward," explained Noodle.
"No," spoke Mr. Chunky-lunky, "I didn't see—that was the trouble. But, never mind, boys, you didn't mean to do it, I'm sure."
"Oh, no, we wouldn't think of doing such a thing!" cried Noodle. "Would we, Toodle?"