And a little later Mr. Woodchuck came home. In his paws he carried some yellow carrots and a white turnip.
“See what I have brought for you!” he cried, as he scrambled down the front door of the underground house.
“Oh, how lovely!” cried Blinkie.
“Why, what is the matter?” asked Mr. Woodchuck, dropping the carrots and the turnip in a heap on the floor. “Has anything happened?” he asked, for he could tell by looking at his wife and children that something was wrong.
“Winkie and Blunk were in great danger to-day,” said Mrs. Woodchuck. “And I am afraid we shall have to move out of our lovely home. Tell your father about the man with the gun, children!”
Winkie and Blunk related what had happened in the clover field when they were playing tag. At the end of the story Mr. Woodchuck looked as worried as did his wife.
“What are we going to do?” asked the woodchuck mother, looking anxiously at her husband. “Shall we have to move?”
“Let me think a minute,” said the father woodchuck. “Tell me,” he went on, speaking to Winkie and Blunk. “Did the man follow you all the way to our burrow?”
“No. He turned around and went back after he shot at us and didn’t hit either of us,” said Blunk.
“Well, then,” went on the father woodchuck, “I think we shall be safe here for another day or so. Men are stupid creatures. It is only by accident that he could find this burrow.”