English
Becarefulnevertoberude
Enoughtothoughtlesslyintrude.
—Whitefoot.
IfeveranybodyintheGreatWorldfeltreliefandthankfulness,itwasWhitefootwhenhedodgedintothatholeinthedeadtreejustasButchertheShrikeallbutcaughthim.
Forafewminuteshedidnothingbutpant,forhewasquiteoutofbreath.
“Iwasright,”hesaidoverandovertohimself,“Iwasright.Iwassuretheremustbeaholeinthistree.ItisoneoftheoldhousesofDrummertheWoodpecker.NowIamsafe.”
Presentlyhepeepedout.HewantedtoseeifButcherwaswatchingoutside.
HewasjustintimetoseeButcher’sgrayandblackandwhitecoatdisappearingamongthetrees.
ButcherwasnotfoolishenoughtowastetimewatchingforWhitefoottocomeout.Whitefootsighedhappily.
Forthefirsttimesincehehadstartedonhisdreadfuljourneyhefeltsafe.Nothingelsemattered.Hewashungry,buthedidn’tmindthat.
Hewaswillingtogohungryforthesakeofbeingsafe.
WhitefootwatcheduntilButcherwasoutofsight.
Thenheturnedtoseewhatthathousewaslike.
Rightawayhediscoveredthattherewasasoft,warmbedinit.
Itwasmadeofleaves,grass,moss,andtheliningofbark.Itwasaveryfinebedindeed.
“My,my,my,butIamlucky,”saidWhitefoottohimself.
“Iwonderwhocouldhavemadethisfinebed.
Icertainlyshallsleepcomfortablyhere.Goodnessknows,Ineedarest.
IfIcanfindfoodenoughnearhere,I’llmakethismyhome.Icouldn’taskforabetterone.”
Chucklinghappily,Whitefootbegantopullawaythetopofthatbedsoastogettothemiddleofit.Andthenhegotasurprise.Itwasanunpleasantsurprise.Itwasamostunpleasantsurprise.Therewassomeoneinthatbed!
Yes,sir,therewassomeonecurledupinalittleroundballinthemiddleofthatfinebed.
Itwassomeonewithacoatofthesoftest,finestfur.Canyouguesswhoitwas?ItwasTimmytheFlyingSquirrel.
ItseemedtoWhitefootasifhisheartfloppedrightover.
Youseeatfirsthedidn’trecognizeTimmy.
Whitefootishimselfsoverytimidthathisthoughtwastorun;togetoutofthereasquicklyaspossible.
Buthehadnoplacetorunto,sohehesitated.
NeverinallhislifehadWhitefoothadagreaterdisappointment.
Heknewnowthatthissplendidhousewasnotforhim.
TimmytheFlyingSquirreldidn’tmove.Heremainedcurledupinasoftlittleball.Hewasasleep.
WhitefootrememberedthatTimmysleepsduringthedayandseldomcomesoutuntiltheBlackShadowscomecreepingoutfromthePurpleHillsatthecloseofday.Whitefootfelteasierinhismindthen.
Timmywassosoundasleepthatheknewnothingofhisvisitor.
AndsoWhitefootfeltsafeinstayinglongenoughtogetrested.
Thenhewouldgooutandhuntforanotherhome.
Sodowninthemiddleofthatsoft,warmbedTimmytheFlyingSquirrel,curledupinalittleroundballwithhisflattailwrappedaroundhim,sleptpeacefully,andontopofthatsoftbedWhitefoottheWoodMouserestedandwonderedwhatheshoulddonext.
NotinalltheGreenForestcouldtwomoretimidlittlepeoplebefoundthanthetwointhatoldhomeofDrummertheWoodpecker.
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