felt sure he would know it the minute he
espied it. "If there isn't one in this wonderful woods," he was
beginning to think, "I don't believe there is one anywhere."

All of a sudden Hazel and Bushy-Tail heard their little play-fellows
give a scared little cry. They looked around quickly, but could see
nothing to be frightened at--only a man carrying a heavy black stick
against his shoulder. He kept stealing up nearer, and Hazel and
Bushy-Tail kept very still watching him.

"I think he has some peanuts for us," said Hazel Squirrel.

"What do we want of peanuts now, come on," said Bushy-Tail, and they ran
around the trunk of the tree. Just then a terrifying "whiz" went past
their ears followed by a deafening "bang." They were so frightened they
ran and ran, and did not stop until they were all out of breath.

It was the only time they ever had even seen a man with a gun. After
that they never took nuts from men carrying sticks.

That afternoon Mrs. Red Squirrel made Hazel and Bushy-Tail take a
little nap. "You know you will be up late to-night," she said. Mr. Bat
had not forgotten his promise and just as soon as it began to get dark
he was knocking at the door. He said there would be a moon, so they need
not bother a fire-fly to go too.

Mrs. Red Squirrel and her two children went as far as the edge of the
woods with them. "Now you know the way you must come often," they called
after Bushy-Tail and Hazel. "Don't forget to come and see us, too, and
thank you for the nice time," they called back. You see, they had been
well trained and did not forget their manners.

[Illustration: FEASTING ON HAZEL NUTS]

"I think I should like to live in the park," said Rusty to his mother.
"Bushy says there are no traps there or bad men with guns." Mrs. Red
Squirrel was thinking she would like to have her groceries delivered,
too, so she answered, "I think I shall speak to your father about it
to-night."

When Bushy-Tail and little Hazel Squirrel finally reached the edge of
the park it was very late and they were very tired indeed. But when they
got within sight of their homes and saw the lights in the windows they
began to run again anyway.

Do you think their mothers were glad to see them once more? Well, was
your mother glad to see you that day she thought you were lost, when you
really were not? And if you still want to know if Bushy-Tail ever found
the wonderful tree where all kinds of nuts grew side by side on the same