Mrs. Coon was puzzled. And she was somewhat alarmed, too. She wanted to
see those strange tracks herself. So she told her other children not to
step a foot out of the house until she came back. And then she asked
Fatty to run along and show her where he had come upon the monster's
trail.

Fatty Coon felt very important, as he led the way across the swamp and
into the woods. It was not often that he could show his mother anything.
And he was so proud that he almost forgot his fright.

"I guess you're glad I have sharp eyes," he said, as they hurried along.

"If the tracks are as big as you say they are, your eyes wouldn't have
to be very sharp to see them," his mother told him. Mrs. Coon never
liked to hear her children boast. She knew that boasting is one of the
most unpleasant things anyone can do.

"Well--maybe you don't think I saw the monster's tracks at all," said
Fatty. "Maybe you don't think I heard him screech--"

"When did you hear him screech?" Mrs. Coon asked. "This is the first
you've said about SCREECHING. When was it?"

"Last summer," Fatty answered.

Mrs. Coon didn't smile. Perhaps she was too worried for that.

"It may not be the same monster," she said. "It may not be a monster at
all."