“I have often heard that the verb to badger means to tease, or to torment,” said Tiny.
“I do not know anything about verbs,” replied the gopher, “but I do know that some hunters are very cruel.”
“Have you ever seen a mole’s nest?” asked Tiny.
“Oh, yes, when I was quite small, I had the privilege of visiting one,” replied the gopher enthusiastically. “You may think that the mole is a very stupid animal, but I assure you that he is not.”
“An animal that lives in the dirt all the time couldn’t be very intelligent,” interrupted Tiny. “Besides, his eyes and ears are so small, he surely cannot see and hear well.”
“Little eyes and ears are often more keen than larger ones,” quickly replied Jolly Gopher. “Do you suppose that a giraffe can see or hear better than you can? It is fortunate that the mole has such tiny eyes and ears, otherwise they would catch a great deal of dirt, as the little animal burrows through the earth. The mole is very clean in appearance. He sleeps three hours and then he works three hours as long as he lives. He is a great builder; he sinks wells to quench his thirst; he can run fast; he can swim; and he can fight. He loves his home in the ground. He seldom comes out.”
“Does he have a nice bed like yours?” asked Tiny, much interested.
“Indeed, he has,” said the gopher. “His home is one of the most wonderful things I have ever seen. It is reached by passing through one of several long, straight halls. The walls are so solid that the rain seldom leaks through. I went into one of these halls, and with some difficulty made my way into another one, which was circular. From this hall five passages led to another hall above my head. I stopped at the foot of the nearest passage to rest. Then I went up. The upper hall was circular, but not so large as the lower one. I knew that I was at the summit of the mole hill, for I could plainly hear the birds singing overhead. From this upper circular hall three more passages led down to the main room. I went down into this room and sat very quietly there for a few moments. I wondered why the mole had made it so difficult to get into his house.”
“I suppose he wants to make his house as safe as possible,” suggested the squirrel.