"I don't doubt it. I don't doubt it at all," squeaked
Danny. "You'll never see me when you are looking for me. That is,
you won't if I can help it. You won't if I see you first."

Blacky chuckled. He knew what Danny meant. When Blacky goes looking
for Danny Meadow Mouse, it usually is in hope of having a Meadow
Mouse dinner, and he knew that Danny knew this. "I've had my
breakfast," said Blacky, "and it isn't dinner time yet."

"What is it you never did?" persisted Danny, in his squeaky voice.

"That was just an exclamation," explained Blacky. "I made a
discovery that surprised me so I exclaimed right out."

"What was it?" demanded Danny.

"It was that the feathers of my coat are coming in thicker than I
ever knew them to before. I hadn't noticed it until I started to set
them in order a minute ago." He buried his bill in the feathers of
his breast. "Yes, sir," said he in a muffled voice, "they are
coming in thicker than I ever knew them to before. There is a lot of
down around the roots of them. I am going to have the warmest coat
I've ever had."

"Well, don't think you are the only one," retorted Danny. "My fur
never was so thick at this time of year as it is now, and it is the
same way with Nanny Meadow Mouse and all our children. I suppose you
know what it means."

"What does it mean?" asked Blacky, just as if he didn't have the