ne that Jimmy added: "Go up on the rock, whistle
as loud as you can, and then run.... I'm going to hurry down the
hill and see the fun."

Billy Woodchuck did exactly as he was told. And in no time at all
his shrill whistle had awakened Uncle Jerry Chuck.

The old gentleman sprang up. He saw Billy, scurrying toward home.
And without so much as a glance behind him to see what the danger
might be, Uncle Jerry tore down the hill. He didn't know what was
chasing him; but he was sure there was something.

On the way home he met Billy Woodchuck's father. And when Mr.
Woodchuck saw him he fell right over backward, he was so
frightened. For he, too, was afraid of the Skunk family.

Uncle Jerry thought that was queer. But he didn't stop. He ran into
his house. And there another queer thing happened. The moment his
wife caught sight of him she gave a scream and rushed out of the
back door.

And for a long, long time after that there wasn't one of Uncle
Jerry's family or his friends who would have anything to do with
him.

He noticed another strange thing, too. Jimmy Rabbit and Billy
Woodchuck were always following him. And whenever Uncle Jerry
turned around quickly he was sure to catch them laughing.

But whatever the joke was, he never could see it.

XIV

MR. FOX HAS AN IDEA

It was so long since Mr. Fox had tried to catch Billy Woodchuck in
the hollow stump that Billy had begun to forget his fear of that
sly fellow. And so when he met Mr. Fox in the woods one day Billy
did not run as he had often done before. To be sure, he did not go
too near Mr. Fox. And while they talked Billy watched the
sharp-nosed gentleman with one eye; and the other eye he kept on a
hole in the stonewall nearby. If Mr. Fox should come too close,
Billy was ready to dive into that hole, where Mr. Fox could not
reach him.

No one could have been pleasanter than Mr. Fox. "I'm so glad to
meet you!" he said. "You're just the person I want to see. I've
been told you are very musical."

Billy Woodchuck didn't know what he meant. But he did not say so.

"Yes," Mr. Fox went on. "They say you are the best whistler in
Pleasant Valley."

That made Billy Woodchuck feel very proud.

"I _can_ whistle pretty well," he said, throwing out his chest.

"And they tell me your two brothers are almost as good whistlers as
you are--but not _quite_," added Mr. Fox, for he saw that Billy did
not like that so well.

"Oh, they can whistle some. But I