and I'm trying to catch him asleep."

Henry Skunk came nearer.

"Why don't you go inside?" he asked.

Frisky shook his head again.

"I don't see very well in the dark," he said, "and I'd rather not."

Henry nodded.

"I can see first rate at night," he told Frisky. "I'll find out for
you if Freddie Weasel is asleep. And if he is, I'll come right back
and tell you, and then you can go in with me and see for yourself."

"Good!" said Frisky. "That's very kind of you, I'm sure."

So Henry Skunk walked up to the hole. It was entirely too small for
him to enter.

"I'll have to make it bigger," he remarked.

"Won't Freddie hear you?" Frisky Squirrel inquired.

"I'll be very quiet about it," Henry Skunk replied. "So if he's asleep
I hardly think I'll disturb him." And at that Henry set to work.

Now, in order to dig, he had to stick his head into the hole. But he
knew he could see Freddie Weasel if Freddie tried to bite his nose; so
Henry was not afraid. How he did make the dirt fly! Frisky wished that
he could dig like that. He thought it must be great fun. And he
watched Henry so closely that he never saw that slim, sneaking form
that crept up behind him. And when Frisky felt something jump right on
top of him, and when a terrible, sharp pain seized his shoulder, he
was scared half out of his wits.

It was Freddie Weasel! He had left his home through another hole,
which Frisky knew nothing about.

Frisky Squirrel called for help. He shouted Henry Skunk's name again
and again, as he rolled over and over on the ground, trying to shake
Freddie off his back.

But how could Henry Skunk hear him, with his head buried inside the
hole? _He_ didn't know what was happening. And if Frisky and Freddie
hadn't rolled right upon him he probably would never have looked
around until it was too late.

But when Henry felt that rolling, tumbling, fighting pair bump against
him he drew his head out of the hole in a hurry. And as soon as he saw
what was happening he sunk his own sharp teeth deep into Freddie
Weasel's back.

Freddie let go of Frisky Squirrel at once. And he gave Henry Skunk's
nose such a savage nip that Henry just had to squeal--it hurt him so.
In order to squeal, of course he had to open his mouth. And when he
opened his mouth he had to let go of Freddie Weasel.

That was exactly what Freddie Weasel wanted. He sprang up and dashed
into the bushes. He was not afraid of Frisky Squirrel. But Henry Skunk
was alt