grain bin. Then he began to look in the nests. Unc' Billy could hear
him coming nearer and nearer. He was looking in the very next nest to
the one in which Unc' Billy was. Finally he looked into that very
nest. Unc' Billy Possum held his breath.

Now the nest in which Unc' Billy was hiding was on the topmost row in
the darkest corner of the hen-house, and Unc' Billy had crawled down
underneath the hay. Perhaps it was because that corner was so dark, or
perhaps it was because that nest was so high up, that Farmer Brown's
boy really didn't expect to find anything there. Anyway, all he saw
was the hay, and he didn't take the trouble to put his hand in and
feel for anything under the hay.

"It's queer," said Farmer Brown's boy. "It's very queer! I guess I
shall have to set some traps."

And all the time Unc' Billy Possum held his breath and lay low.




XVIII

UNC' BILLY POSSUM IS A PRISONER


"Mah home is in a holler tree--
It's a long way home!
Ah wish Ah's there, but here Ah be--
It's a long way home!