Part 6 (2/2)

There was an answering twinkle in Danny's own eyes as he continued

”No, Sir,” said he, ”I wouldn't stand a particleand strong, like Old Man Coyote, or had sings, like Ski that no one wanted me, like--like--”

Danny hesitated and then finished rather lamely, ”like some folks I know, I suppose I wouldn't be afraid”

Old Mr Toad looked up sharply when Dannyfar out across the Green Meadows and looked so innocent that Mr Toad concluded that he couldn't have had hi his nose, ”I suppose youNow, I don't knohat it is I mind my own business, and no one ever bothers ”

”It is,” replied Danny, ”but, as I said before, it is a very good thing to keep one on guard when there are asfor one as there are for me Now there's Mr Blacksnake and--”

”Where?” exclai as pale as a toad can turn, and looking uneasily and anxiously in every direction

[Illustration: _”Where?” exclai as pale as a toad can turn_]

Danny turned his head to hide a s fear, no one ever did ”Oh,” said he, ”I didn'tto say was that there is Mr Blacksnake and Granny Fox and Reddy Fox and Redtail the Hawk and Hooty the Owl and others Ifor a chance to make a dinner from poor little me Do you wonder that I am afraid most of the time?”

”No,” replied old Mr Toad ”No, I don't wonder that you are afraid Itfor you every ht, too”

”Oh, it's not so bad,” replied Danny ”It's rather exciting

Besides, it keeps my wits sharp all the time I am afraid I should find life very dull indeed if, like you, I feared nothing and nobody By the way, see how queerly that grass isover there It looks as if Mr Blacksnake--Why, Mr Toad, where are you going in such a hurry?”

[Illustration: _”Why, Mr Toad, where are you going in such a hurry?” asked Danny_]

”I've just ree Pool,” shouted old Mr Toad over his shoulder, as he hurried so that he fell over his own feet

Danny chuckled as he sat alone on his doorstep ”Oh, no, old Mr

Toad doesn't knohat fear is!” said he ”Funny how some people won't admit what everybody can see for the to say so”

[Illustration]

XXI

An Exciting Day for Danny Meadow Mouse

Danny Meadow Mouse started along one of his private little paths very early one et a supply of a certain kind of grass seed of which he is very fond He had been thinking about that seed for soht, as he had found out the day before by a visit to the place where this particular grass grew The only trouble was it grew a long way from Danny's horass was so short that he couldn't make a path under it

”I feel it inday,”

said Danny to hi ”I suppose that if I were really wise, I would stay nearer ho is really worth having unless it is worth working for, and that seed will taste all the better if I have hard work getting it”

So he trotted along his private little path, his ears wide open, and his eyes wide open, and his little nose carefully testing every Merry Little Breeze who happened along for any scent of danger which it rass was so tall that he couldn't see over it, even when he sat up He had gone only a little hen he thought he heard a queer rustling behind hiain, and it certainly was right in the path behind hi it