XVI. Unc' Billy Possum Visits the Smiling Pool

Joe Otter and Billy Mink were sitting on the Big Rock in the
Smiling Pool. Because they had nothing else to do, they were
planning mischief. Jerry Muskrat was busy filling his new house
with food for the winter. He was too busy to get into mischief.

Suddenly Billy Mink put a finger on his lips as a warning to
Little Joe Otter to keep perfectly still. Billy's sharp eyes had
seen something moving over in the bulrushes. Together he and
Little Joe Otter watched, ready to dive into the Smiling Pool at
the first sign of danger. In a few minutes the rushes parted and
a sharp little old face peered out. Little Joe Otter and Billy
Mink each sighed with relief, and their eyes began to dance. "Hi,
Unc' Billy Possum!" shouted Billy Mink.

A grin crept over the sharp little old face peering out from the
bulrushes.

"Hi, yo'self!" he shouted, for it really was Unc' Billy Possum.

"What are you doing over here?" called Little Joe Otter.

"Just a-looking round," replied Unc' Billy Possum, his eyes
twinkling.

"Have you heard about Reddy Fox?" shouted Billy Mink.