A turn in the path brought them to a clump of hazel bushes, where a queer spectacle met their gaze. An animal covered with mud and moss was trailing along towards the creek. A striped gopher, a queer little animal with bloated cheeks and no neck at all, was annoying the poor creature by jumping upon its back.
A QUEER LITTLE ANIMAL WITH BLOATED CHEEKS AND NO NECK AT ALL WAS TORMENTING THE POOR CREATURE BY JUMPING UPON ITS BACK.
“It is a turtle,” said Tiny, who had seen creatures of its kind before. “It has just awakened from its winter slumber. You know that a turtle settles down in the mud as soon as the frost kills the insects, and there it stays until warm weather comes again.”
“Stop teasing that turtle!” cried Winkie to the gopher. “If you do not cease, you shall feel the points of my teeth. Come here.”
The gopher jumped from the turtle’s back, and, holding his head to one side, said good-naturedly:
“I am tired of teasing the slothful turtle, but I am not too tired to run a race with you. Let us see which of us three will beat in a race.”
Winkie readily consented; but, just as they had drawn up in line to take a dash down the narrow pathway, a deep growl resounded through the thicket. Quick as a flash Winkie darted into a hollow stump.
