“I don’t hear anything!” whispered Blunk.
“Hark!” cautioned Winkie once more.
This time they all heard it. Silently they listened in their underground house to the strange noise. It was up above them—a thudding, rasping, scraping sound.
“What can it be?” asked Mrs. Woodchuck. She spoke in a whisper, as, indeed, they all did, for they knew their little whispering voices could not be heard outside their burrow.
“I don’t know what it is,” answered Mr. Woodchuck. “But whatever it is I’m glad Winkie heard it before I started out; otherwise I might have run right into danger!”
“Do you suppose it’s that farmer looking for us?” asked Blinkie.
“Or his dog?” added Blunk.
“If it’s a dog maybe I could fool him in some way!” said Winkie.
“How can you fool a dog?” Winkie’s mother asked.
“I can poke my nose out of the back door, and when he sees me I’ll duck down in here again,” explained Winkie.