woodrat, because he had really become dangerous.

Brushtail dropped the woodrat down before the little foxes, and how
they did did begin pulling and biting him! Mrs. Brushtail up on the
log smiled ever so broadly at this. But it was not a pleasing smile to
Doctor Rabbit, hiding in the briar patch. I should say not! It was a
terrible smile.

The next instant Yappy came tearing through the woods, right toward
the thicket, and Doctor Rabbit had a moment of hope. But Mrs.
Brushtail just uttered one quick, low growl, and every little fox
scurried into the thicket. That time Doctor Rabbit had a good view of
the inside of the thicket, and he saw what became of the foxes. They
went into a hole under some rocks by a large papaw bush. "So that,"
said Doctor Rabbit to himself, "is where Mr. and Mrs. Brushtail and
their little Brushies have their den."

Brushtail did not run into the thicket with Mrs. Brushtail and the
little foxes. When he saw Yappy coming toward the thicket he ran right
toward the excited dog and then hid behind another thicket. When Yappy
came near, Brushtail sprang right out, and away he ran. Yappy bayed
loudly, and away he went through the woods after Brushtail. You see
now what Brushtail was doing--he was leading Yappy away from that den
of little foxes!




JACK RABBIT SPRAINS HIS FOOT