THE DANGER SIGNAL
The evil-minded fear the light,
But love the darkness of the night.
_Billy Mink._
There was a great deal of uneasiness in the big barn where the robber
Rats lived. Would Billy Mink return or had he just made a chance visit
and gone on somewhere else? The gray old leader of the Rats felt sure
that Billy would return. He was too anxious to eat, and you know when a
Rat’s appetite fails he must be very much disturbed indeed.
But the younger Rats thought the gray old leader needlessly frightened,
and they went about their business of stealing food and gnawing holes
wherever there seemed a chance of finding a new food supply, just as if
nothing had happened. However, each hole which led into the barn was
continually watched by sharp eyes. Those Rats did not intend to be taken
by surprise a second time.
Rats prefer the hours of darkness. They hate the light of day. Perhaps
that is because their deeds are deeds of darkness. So, when daylight
came, most of the Rats returned to their beds to sleep. Only underneath
the barn, where it was dark, did any of them continue to run about,
seeking what mischief they might get into. But the wise, gray old leader
saw to it that a watch was kept on each hole just the same as during the
night. He didn’t think Billy Mink would come in the daytime, but he was
wise enough to know that Billy Mink is forever doing the unexpected. He
suspected that Billy would take great pains not to let the farmer who
owned that barn know that he was anywhere about. “He’ll probably sleep
all day,” thought the gray old leader, “but just as soon as it begins to
get dark he’ll be back here. I just feel it in my bones.”
But it wasn’t dark when there suddenly sounded the danger signal from
one of the watchers. In fact, it was broad daylight, the very middle of
the day. You see, daylight and darkness are all one to Billy Mink. He
sleeps whenever he feels sleepy, regardless of whether it be night or
day. At all other times he is very wide-awake indeed.
It happened that Billy had wakened just about noon that day, and as is
usual with him, after a nap, he was hungry. If he had been a Rat instead
of a Mink, he might have remained under the woodpile until darkness
came. But Billy is very sure of his ability to take care of himself. He
first made sure that no one was about. Then he slipped out from under
that pile of wood and a minute later he was under the barn. Then it was
that the danger signal was sounded by the Rat who was watching the hole
through which Billy entered. It was at once passed on from Rat to Rat,
until every one in the barn knew that their enemy had returned.