etter be moving along."

"Don't be in such a hurry, Peter. Don't be in such a hurry," replied
Jimmy, who himself never hurries. "Stop and talk a bit. That old
nuisance won't bother you as long as you are with me."

Peter hesitated. He wanted to gossip, but he still felt nervous about
Bowser the Hound. However, as he heard nothing of Bowser's great voice,
telling all the world that he had found Peter's tracks, he decided to
stop a few minutes. "What are you doing down here on the Green Meadows?"
he demanded.

Jimmy grinned. "I'm looking for grasshoppers and grubs, if you must
know," said he. "And I've just got a notion I may find some fresh eggs.
I don't often eat them, but once in a while one tastes good."

"If you ask me, it's a funny place to be looking for eggs down here on
the Green Meadows," replied Peter. "When I want a thing; I look for it
where it is likely to be found."

"Just so, Peter; just so," retorted Jimmy Skunk, nodding his head with
approval. "That's why I am here."

Peter looked puzzled. He was puzzled. But before he could ask another
question a rollicking song caused both of them to look up. There on
quivering wings in mid-air was the singer. He was dressed very much like
Jimmy Skunk himself, in black and white, save that in places the white
had a tinge of yellow, especially on the back of his neck. It was
Bubbling Bob the Bobolink. And how he did sing! It seemed as if the
notes fairly tumbled over each other.

Jimmy Skunk raised himself on his hind-legs a little to see just where
Bubbling Bob dropped down in the grass. Then Jimmy began to move in that
direction. Suddenly Peter understood. He remembered that Bubbling Bob's
nest is always on the ground. It was his eggs that Jimmy Skunk was
looking for.

"You don't happen to have seen Mrs. Bob anywhere around here, do you,
Peter?" asked Jimmy, trying to speak carelessly.

"No," replied Peter. "If I had I wouldn't tell you where. You ought to
be ashamed, Jimmy Skunk, to think of robbing such a beautiful singer as
Bubbling Bob."

"Pooh!" retorted Jimmy. "What's the harm? If I find those eggs he and
Mrs. Bob could simply build another nest and lay some more. They won't
be any the worse off, and I will have had a good breakfast."

"But think of all the work they would have to do to build another nest,"
replied Peter.

"I should worry," retorted Jimmy Skunk. "Any one who can spend so much
time singing can afford to do a little extra work."