distance from his home in Cedar Swamp. And he didn’t know what to do. “I
want to get under cover, somewhere,” he told Solomon Owl. “You don’t know
of a good place near-by, do you, where I can get out of the storm and take
a nap?”

“Why, yes!” answered Solomon Owl. “Come right along to my house and spend
the day with me!”

But Benjamin Bat did not like the suggestion at all.

“I’m afraid I might crowd, you,” he said. He was thinking of the time when
Solomon Owl had chased him. And sleeping in Solomon Owl’s house seemed far
from a safe thing to do.

[_Illustration 2_]

Benjamin Asked Solomon’s Advice


Solomon was wise enough to guess what was going on inside Benjamin’s head.

“Come along!” he said. “We’ll both be asleep before we know it. I’m sorry
I can’t offer you something to eat. But I haven’t a morsel of food in my
house. No doubt, though, you’ve just had a good meal. _I_ ate seven mice
to-night. And I certainly couldn’t eat anything more.”

When Solomon Owl told him that, Benjamin Bat thought perhaps there was no
danger, after all. And since the rain was falling harder and harder every
moment, he thanked Solomon and said he would be glad to accent his
invitation.