Winkie, like most wild animals, could see pretty well in the dark, so she walked along.
Every now and then a flash of lightning came, and this showed her still better which way to go. She did not need to keep on any path. She could wander where she wished. And, really, the rain did her little harm, for this was summer. If it had been winter, with a rain that froze as fast as it fell, that would have been very sad indeed. Winkie wore a coat of fur, and though this was wet through, she knew it would soon dry in the sun.
She looked about her for a hollow tree, but could find none. Then she spied a hole under some rocks, and in another moment she had crawled into this little den, away from the wind and the rain. In the hole were dried leaves, and cuddling up in these Winkie soon began to feel warm again.
Outside the rain splashed down, the wind lashed the branches of the trees, breaking some off and tossing them to the ground, the thunder roared, and the lightning flashed. But, safe in the little cave she had found, Winkie, the wily woodchuck, soon went to sleep again.
So, after all, Winkie came through the storm with nothing worse than a fright and a wetting. Of course she missed Slicko, for when morning came and the warm sun shone once more, there was no sign of the jumping squirrel.
“Slicko! Slicko! Where are you?” called Winkie, as she came out of the little cave.
“Slicko has gone away!” chirped a bird. “I saw Slicko scampering off through the tree tops long before the sun was up.”
“Well, then I shall have to get a new friend,” said Winkie. “Have you seen any of my family?” she asked the bird.
“No, I am sorry to say I have not,” was the answer. “I have only been in these woods a short time. I came just before the storm, and I met Slicko only by chance. I can’t tell you anything about your family.”