"You're horrid, Jimmy Skunk. You're just horrid," said Peter. "I hope
you won't find a single egg, so there!"

With this, Peter once more headed for the dear Old Briar-patch,
while Jimmy Skunk continued toward the place where Bubbling Bob had
disappeared in the long grass. Peter went only a short distance and then
sat up to watch Jimmy Skunk. Just before Jimmy reached the place where
Bubbling Bob had disappeared, the latter mounted into the air again,
pouring out his rollicking song as if there were no room in his heart
for anything but happiness. Then he saw Jimmy Shrunk and became very
much excited. He flew down in the grass a little farther on and then up
again, and began to scold.

It looked very much as if he had gone down in the grass to warn Mrs.
Bob. Evidently Jimmy thought so, for he at once headed that way. When
Bubbling Bob did the same thing all over again. Peter grew anxious. He
knew just how patient Jimmy Skunk could be, and he very much feared
that Jimmy would find that nest. Presently he grew tired of watching
and started on for the dear Old Briar-patch. Just before he reached it a
brown bird, who reminded him somewhat of Mrs. Redwing and Sally Sly the
Cowbird, though she was smaller, ran across the path in front of him
and then flew up to the top of a last year's mullein stalk. It was Mrs.
Bobolink. Peter knew her well, for he and she were very good friends.

"Oh!" cried Peter. "What are you doing here? Don't you know that Jimmy
Skunk, is hunting for your nest over there? Aren't you worried to death?
I would be if I were in your place."

Mrs. Bob chuckled. "Isn't he a dear? And isn't he smart?" said she,
meaning Bubbling Bob, of course, and not Jimmy Skunk. "Just see him lead
that black-and-white robber away."

Peter stared at her for a full minute. "Do you mean to say," said he
"that your nest isn't over there at all?"

Mrs. Bob chuckled harder than ever. "Of course it isn't over there,"
said she.

"Then where is it?" demanded Peter.

"That's telling," replied Mrs. Bob. "It isn't over there, and it isn't
anywhere near there. But where it is is Bob's secret and mine, and we
mean to keep it. Now I must go get something to eat," and with a hasty
farewell Mrs. Bobolink flew over to the other side of the dear Old
Briar-patch.

Peter remembered that he had seen Mrs. Bob running along the ground
before she flew up to the old mullein stalk. He went back to the spot
where he had first seen her and hu