"That is," Grandaddy Beaver explained, "we looked everywhere except
near the tree where you had that adventure a few nights ago. I said
you wouldn't be there, for I advised you to keep away from that spot,
as you will recall."

Now, Brownie Beaver said nothing more. He knew that it was an
unheard-of thing for one of the Beaver family to be caught by a falling
tree. To have everyone know what had happened to him would be a good
deal like a disgrace.

But there are plenty of people who would think they had done something
quite clever if they had gnawed through a tree with their teeth--
though that was something that never once entered Brownie Beaver's
head.




XVIII

MR. FROG'S QUESTION


"Why don't you get some new clothes?"

It was Mr. Frog that asked the question; and he asked it of Brownie
Beaver, who was at work on top of his house. Mr. Frog had been hiding
among the lily-pads, watching Brownie. But Brownie hadn't noticed him
until he stuck his head out of the water and spoke.