“Good-bye,” echoed the wily woodchuck. She felt a bit lonesome when Toto was gone. “I wonder what a book is,” murmured Winkie, as she walked along after she had lapped up all the water she wanted. “Toto said book. I wish I knew what a book is!” And she spoke aloud this time.
“A book! Ha! I can tell you what a book is!” suddenly exclaimed another voice. “Come over here and I’ll tell you all about a book. I have been put in one!”
Winkie looked through the trees, and what she saw made her heart beat faster than it ever had before.
“Oh, it’s a dog!” she gasped. “One of the farmer’s big dogs! Oh, this is the end of me! Oh, I must run!”
Away leaped Winkie. The dog ran after her barking and shouting:
“Don’t run! Don’t be afraid! I’m only Don! I’m Don, the runaway dog, but I don’t run away any more, and I won’t hurt you. Wait! I want to tell you what a book is!”
CHAPTER VI
WINKIE IN A STORM
Winkie, the wily woodchuck, was so frightened at the sight of the dog—even more frightened than she had been at the distant blasting explosion—that she ran on and on through the woods, scarcely looking where she was going. Racing in this way, not keeping watch, [caused Winkie to bump into a tree full tilt!]