“He would. Now do you see why nearly every one wanted some way of leaving messages for other Woodsfolk while he went off to hide or feed? You don’t dare make a noise; you can’t wait too long for fear someone will see you; so you leave that little smelly mark that stays and stays long after the warm smell of your body is blown away so you can’t be followed. But you’re so used to it you never think about it.”
“Oh-h-h!” said Nibble. “I hadn’t thought of that. I guess I’m beginning to understand.”
“I hope so,” sniffed the doctor. “Of course nobody’ll ever be wise enough to know just how generous Mother Nature’s been. But remember, you never nibble a clover leaf that you haven’t her to thank for it.”
Clover leaf! the bunny’s twitchy nose began to sniff for one. Stripes Skunk cocked up one ear and looked at the Doctor with a little twinkle in his eye. “I s’pose we can thank her for snails,” said he. “’Cause——” Schloop! he licked a juicy one off the under side of a dock leaf, “’cause at least (crunch! crunch!) we can run fast—enough—to catch ’em.”
THE END