Part 4 (1/2)

”I have been shot,” said Uncle Wiggily, ”and the doctor cannot get the bullets out.”

”Suppose you let me try,” said Mrs. Wren. ”I have a very sharp bill, and I think I can pull them out.”

”Then you are a sort of a doctor,” said Uncle Wiggily. ”Go ahead, and see what you can do.”

”Yes, do,” urged Dr. Possum.

So the little brown bird put her beak in the holes in Uncle Wiggily's leg, where the bullets had gone in, and she pulled every one out. It hurt a little, but Uncle Wiggily did not make a fuss.

”There,” said Mrs. Wren, ”that is done.”

Then Dr. Possum put some salve on the leg and bound it up, promising to come in next day to see how Uncle Wiggily was getting on.

”Did you find a nest-house?” asked Mamma Littletail of the bird.

”No,” was the answer, ”I think I shall have to stay with you another night, if you will let me. Perhaps I shall find a nest to-morrow.”

So she stayed with the Littletail family another night, and to-morrow night I will tell you how she found a nest.

VIII

SUSIE AND SAMMIE FIND A NEST

Sammie Littletail was up early the next morning. He had not slept very well, for Uncle Wiggily Longears had groaned very much because of the pain in his leg where he was shot. Sammie thought if he got up early, and went for some nice, fresh carrots for his uncle, it would make the old rabbit feel better.

While Sammie was digging up some carrots, in a field not far from the burrow where he lived, he saw the same gray squirrel that had warned him about not going into the deer park.

”What are you doing now?” asked the squirrel. ”It seems to me you are always doing something.”

”I am digging carrots for Uncle Wiggily Longears that was shot,” said Sammie.

”That is a very nice thing to do,” the gray squirrel said. ”You are a better boy rabbit than I thought you were.”

”What are you doing here?” Sammie asked the squirrel.

”Me? Oh, I am moving into a new nest. I am getting ready for spring.”

”A new nest!” exclaimed Sammie, and, all at once, he thought of Mrs.

Wren, who could not find a nest-house to live in. ”What are you going to do with your old nest?” the little boy rabbit asked.

”Why leave it, to be sure. I never move my nest.”

”Don't you want it any more?”

”Not in the least. I am through with it.”

”May I have it?” asked Sammie, very politely.