ItwasonaFridaythatBrownieBeaverfirstheardthecyclonewascoming. AndaftermakingsurethatGrandaddyBeaverknewwhathewastalkingaboutwhenhesaidthegreatwindwouldsweepdownuponthevillageonthefollowingTuesday,Browniespentagooddealoftimewonderingwhathehadbetterdo. HewantedtosavehishousefrombeingblownoverthetopofBlueMountain.Andhewantedtosavehimselffrombeingcarriedalongatthesametime. BeforeFridaywasgoneBrownieBeaverbegantoheapmoremudandsticksuponhishouse,tomakeitstronger.AndwhenTiredTimcameswimmingpastthelazyscamplaughedharderthanever. “Iseeyou’reafraidofthecyclone,”hecalled. “Butwhatyou’redoingwon’thelpyouany. Thewindwillblowawaythosestickseasilyenough. Whatyououghttodoistodigahouselikemineinthebank. Thenyouwon’thavetoworryaboutanycyclone.” SoBrowniesettoworkandmadehimahouselikeTiredTim’s.OnMondayhehadfinishedit.Buthedidn’tlikehisnewhomeatall. “It’snobetterthanarat’shole,”hesaid. “MyfamilyhaveneverlivedinsuchaplaceandI’mnotusedtoit. Iprefermyhousethat’sbuiltofsticksandmud. AndI’mgoingtoseeifthereisn’tsomewayIcanmakeitsafe.” SoBrowniewenttoGrandaddyBeaveragainandaskedhimwhatheoughttodo. TheoldgentlemansaidhewouldtrytothinkofaplantosaveBrownie’shouse. “Iwishyouwouldhurry,”Brownieurgedhim.“TodayisMonday;andtomorrowthecyclonewillbehere.Whatareyougoingtodotoyourownhouse,Grandaddy?” “Myhouse—”saidGrandaddyBeaver—“myhouseisveryold. Ithashadmudandstickspileduponiteveryseasonforoverahundredyears. Youcanseeforyourselfthatit’smuchbiggerthanyours. AndIreckonit’sstrongenoughtostaywhereitis,nomatterhowhardthewindblows.Butyourhouseisdifferent.Letmethinkaminute!”theoldgentlemansaid. Browniewaitedinsilencewhiletheoldgentlemanthought,withhiseyesshuttight.Browniewatchedhimforalongtime. Onceortwicehethoughtheheardsomethingthatsoundedlikeasnore. Butheknewitcouldn’tbethat—itwasonlythethoughtstryingtogetinsideGrandaddy’shead. AtlastGrandaddysatupwithastart. “Haveyouthoughtofsomething?”Brownieinquired. “What’sthat?”Grandaddyasked.“Oh,yes!I’veagoodidea,”hesaid.“Whatyoumustdoistotieyourhousesothewindcan’tblowitaway.” Browniethankedhim.Andhewentawayfeelingquitehappyagain—untilhereachedhomeandstartedtofollowGrandaddy’sadvice. Thenhesawthathehadforgottensomething. Hehadn’tanythingwithwhichtotiehishouseandmakeitsafefromthecyclone. 
