rather lamely, "like some folks
I know, I suppose I wouldn't be afraid."

Old Mr. Toad looked up sharply when Danny mentioned homely and
ugly-looking people, but Danny was gazing far out across the
Green Meadows and looked so innocent that Mr. Toad concluded that
he couldn't have had him in mind.

"Well," said he, thoughtfully scratching his nose, "I suppose
you may be right, but for my part fear seems a very foolish
thing. Now, I don't know what it is. I mind my own business, and
no one ever bothers me. I should think it would be a very
uncomfortable feeling."

"It is," replied Danny, "but, as I said before, it is a very good
thing to keep one on guard when there are as many watching for
one as there are for me. Now there's Mr. Blacksnake and--"

"Where?" exclaimed old Mr. Toad, turning as pale as a toad can
turn, and looking uneasily and anxiously in every direction.

[Illustration: _"Where?" exclaimed old Mr. Toad, turning as pale
as a toad can turn_]

Danny turned his head to hide a smile. If old Mr. Toad wasn't
showing fear, no one ever did. "Oh," said he, "I didn't mean that
he is anywhere around here now. What I was going to say was that
there is Mr. Blacksnake and Granny Fox and Reddy Fox and Redtail
the Hawk and Hooty the Owl and others I might name, always
watching for a chance to make a dinner from poor little me. Do
you wonder that I am afraid most of the time?"

"No," replied old Mr. Toad. "No, I don't wonder that you are
afraid. It must be dreadful to feel hungry eyes are watching for
you every minute of the day and night, too."

"Oh, it's not so bad," replied Danny. "It's rather exciting.
Besides, it keeps my wits sharp all the time. I am afraid I
should find life very dull indeed if, like you, I feared nothing
and nobody. By the way, see how queerly that grass is moving over
there. It looks as if Mr. Blacksnake--Why, Mr. Toad, where are
you going in such a hurry?"

[Illustration: _"Why, Mr. Toad, where are you going in such a
hurry?" asked Danny_]

"I've just remembered an important engagement with my cousin,
Grandfather Frog, at the Smiling Pool," shouted old Mr. Toad
over his shoulder, as he hurried so that he fell over his own
feet.

Danny chuckled as he sat alone on his doorstep. "Oh, no, old Mr.
Toad doesn't know what fear is!" said he. "Funny how some people
won't admit what everybody can see for themselves. Now, I am
afraid, and I'm willing to say so."

[Illustration]