hen he came back that way, a few hours later, he found the
old woodchuck still in exactly the same position as before. He never
stirred or scolded even when Young Grumpy came up and squeaked quite
close to his ear. Seized suddenly with a vague uneasiness, Young Grumpy
nosed at him curiously. The old woodchuck's body was chill and rigid.
It created a most unpleasant impression, and, not knowing why he did so,
Young Grumpy hurried forth from the dark wood and down into the sunlit
pasture to which he was accustomed.

"For some days he wandered about the pasture, sleeping under stumps and
in mossy hollows, and fortunately escaping, by reason of his light,
rusty-gray color, the eyes of passing hawks. At last chance, or his nose
for good living, led him down to the clover meadow adjoining Anderson's
barnyard.

"It was here that his adventures may be said to have begun.

"Just as he was happily filling himself with clover, a white dog, with
short-cropped ears standing up stiffly, came by and stopped to look at
him with bright, interested eyes. Young Grumpy, though the stranger was
big enough to take him in two mouthfuls, felt not frightened but annoyed.
He gave a chuckling squeak of defiance and rushed straight at the dog.

"Now, this was the Boy's bull terrier, Major, and he had been severely
trained to let small, helpless creatures alone. He had got it into his
head that all such creatures were the Boy's property, and so to be
guarded and respected. He was afraid lest he might hurt this cross
little animal, and get into trouble with the Boy. So he kept jumping out
of the way, stiff-leggedly, as if very much amused, and at the same time
he kept barking, as if to call the Boy to come and see. Young Grumpy,
feeling very big, followed him up with short, threatening rushes, till he
found himself just at the open gate leading into the farmyard.

"Parading solemnly before the gate was a big gray gander with only one
eye. That one eye, extra keen and fierce, caught sight of Young Grumpy,
and probably mistook him for an immense rat, thief of eggs and murderer
of goslings. With a harsh hiss and neck outstretched till it was like a
snake, the great bird darted at him.

"Young Grumpy hesitated. After the manner of his kind, he sat upon his
haunches to hesitate. The gander seemed to him very queer, and perhaps
dangerous.

"At this critical moment the white dog interfered. In his eyes Young
Grumpy belonged to the Boy,