"Nuffin, nuffin, Sah! Ah'm just walking fo' mah health," replied Unc' Billy
over his shoulder, as he hurried on. You see he didn't like to tell any one
what he thought he had heard, for fear that it might not be true, and then
they would laugh at him.

"Didn't suppose Unc' Billy ever worried about his health," muttered Jimmy
Skunk with a puzzled look, as he watched Unc' Billy disappear.

Just as jolly, round, red Mr. Sun dropped out of sight behind the Purple
Hills, Unc' Billy gave it up and turned toward home. His neck ached from
looking up in the tree-tops, and his feet were sore from walking. And just
then Unc' Billy for the first time thought of that dinner that old Mrs.
Possum had sent him to get. Unc' Billy sat down and mopped his brow in
dismay.

"Ah 'specks Ah'm in fo' it this time, sho' enough!" he said.




IV


UNC' BILLY COMES HOME

Unc' Billy Possum crept along in the darkest shadows he could find as he
drew near to the great hollow tree which is his home.

"Ah 'specks Ah'm in fo' it. Ah 'specks Ah sho'ly am in fo' it this time,"
he kept muttering.