o be only the first warning of winter. In a few
days the weather grew quite warm again. And to Dickie's dismay the three
families of cousins waked up and went out of doors to get the air, and
gather seeds and such thin-shelled nuts as they could find.

They did not eat all that they picked up. Like Dickie Deer Mouse, they
stored some of the food in secret nooks and crannies, against a time of
need.

That first early snowstorm had been a good thing for the dwellers in the
underground chamber. It had warned them that winter was coming. And
during the weeks that passed before the whole countryside became
snow-bound they managed to gather enough nuts and seeds to last them
through any ordinary winter--if they didn't eat too heartily.

When the real winter finally descended upon Pleasant Valley it found the
Deer Mouse cousins quite ready for it. And even if Dickie's relations
did wake up now and then, when the weather wasn't too cold, they slept
soundly enough at other times, so that they did not disturb him greatly.

Even the children, who had pushed and crowded when they first entered
the front hall of the house--even they were surprisingly quiet, when
they were asleep.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

XXII

QUEER MR. PINE FINCH

Perhaps the winter was longer than usual; or perhaps Dickie Deer Mouse
ate too freely of his hidden store of good things. At any rate, Dickie's
hoard slowly grew smaller and smaller. And long before the day came when
he bolted the last seed that remained in the hollow fence-rail he had
begun to wonder where he should find more food.

While he had been sleeping the birds that stayed in Pleasant Valley
during the winter had been feasting greedily upon the very kind of fare
that Dickie Deer Mouse needed. Jasper Jay and his noisy cronies had
taken good care that there shouldn't be a beechnut left. And when they
had eaten the last sweet nut they turned to such dried berries as still
clung to the withered stocks on which they had grown.

No longer could Dickie Deer Mouse spend so much time asleep in his cozy
chamber. Instead, he had to wander far through the woods at night,
thankful to pick up a bit here and there as best he might.

On those crisp, cold nights he had to scamper fast in order to keep
warm. And often, when dawn came, he crept home still hungry.

At last Dickie's night runs lapped well over into the day. For his
search for food became more and more disappointing. An