Doctor Rabbit did not find out anything more about Brushtail the Fox
that day, nor for several days. But it was only a very short time
until all the little creatures of the Big Green Woods knew that
Brushtail the Fox was around, and they were afraid to poke their noses
out of their homes.
Stubby Woodchuck had seen Brushtail three times, and he said Brushtail
certainly did look fierce.
"He looked so fierce he took my appetite away for several hours each
time I saw him," said Stubby Woodchuck, "and I am sure he looks fully
as terrible as Ki-yi Coyote or Tom Wildcat. Yes, sir, we have a very
mean and dangerous enemy in Mr. Brushtail, and we must keep watch
every minute."
"I wish he'd go away and stay away," said Cheepy Chipmunk, who was
always easily frightened.
"But he doesn't expect to leave at all," Doctor Rabbit informed his
friends. "He expects to live here in these woods, right along."
"He does!" exclaimed poor Cheepy Chipmunk, his voice trembling with
fear. "How do you know he expects to live here?"
"Well," explained Doctor Rabbit, "I have seen quite enough to convince
me that Brushtail expects to make his home in the Big Green Woods. In
fact, I am in position to know that he has a home here right now. It's
all fixed up, and he's living in it. He spends his time there except
when he's out hunting us or after one of Farmer Roe's nice fat hens."
"Where is old Brushtail's home?" Stubby Woodchuck and Cheepy Chipmunk
demanded in the same breath.
"Sh!" Doctor Rabbit warned his friends. "Don't talk so loud! Brushtail
might be hiding so near he could hear every word you say. The fact is,
I can't tell you any more at present. It would not help if I told you
more, and it might get out so Brushtail would hear of it. Just keep
still about what I've said and watch for Brushtail every minute you
are out in the woods. In the meantime whenever I get a chance I will
hide in a certain place, where I can see him often enough, I think, to
discover what his plans are. Then when I find out all I can, I will
slip around quietly and tell you."
"I saw Farmer Roe and his boy passing through our woods this morning,"
Stubby Woodchuck said. "I wonder what they were after?"
"They were after Brushtail," Doctor Rabbit explained. "I heard them
talking and I heard them say they were trying to find out where he
lives."
"Dear me! I hope they'll run him away so he'll never come back!" said
Cheepy Chipmunk, with a troubled look.
"They'll probably have to find out first where he lives," said Doctor
Rabbit, "and I believe that is going to be pretty hard for them to do.
But still, Yappy has a very sharp nose, and in time he may find
Brushtail's den."
It was dinner time, so Doctor Rabbit and Stubby Woodchuck and Cheepy
Chipmunk separated, each slipping home as quietly as he could.