“Indeed she would!” said Winkie. “Oh, such a terrible time!”
“What’s the matter?” asked Mother Woodchuck, coming up into the air after her sleep. “What’s all the excitement about?”
“We were playing tag,” began Winkie, “when all at once there was a noise like thunder—”
“But it wasn’t thunder. It was a man with a gun shooting at us,” interrupted Blunk.
“Oh, my dears! A man with a gun, shooting!” cried Mrs. Woodchuck. “Oh, my poor children! What shall we do? I wish your father was home! Oh, this is dreadful!”
“Don’t worry, Mother!” said Blunk kindly. “We ran away from the man with the gun, and I don’t believe he can find us. And neither of us got shot. Winkie threw herself down in the clover and hid just in time.” Blunk was proud of his clever, wily sister.
“Oh, but suppose he comes here!” cried Mrs. Woodchuck.
“I don’t believe he can find our burrow,” said Blinkie, a bit proudly. “Daddy and you made our underground house in a place that isn’t easy to find.”
“Besides, it has two doors,” said Winkie. “And you told us that made it much safer, Mother.”
“I suppose it is as safe as any house can be,” said the woodchuck lady. “Still, even with two doors, something may happen. I wish your father would come home.”