Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/187

 They fell to work in earnest and piled the earth and stones down the tunnels of their homes, which were now full of shivering snakes and owls. If any one had been told that the prairie dogs were lazy and had come at that moment to see, he would have thought it all a mistake. The dogs were so excited that they threw the dirt in between their legs, over their heads and every way, and all the while Brother Gray Squirrel ran about screaming, "The black spirit is coming!" After a while there was quiet and the dogs had time to rest. They had done a good work, for every owl and snake had had been smothered in the homes of the poor little dogs whom they had been tormenting so long. Then the Mayor collected all his dog people together and they marched off with Brother Gray Squirrel for a leader.

Early the next day they found themselves on the side of the great mountain. Brother Gray Squirrel pointed out a wood where they could rest and where there were leaves and berries to eat. Soon they had to move on again and the baby dogs had to be carried, for the way was rough and steep. At length they reached a valley, the desire of a prairie dog's heart, and they were just thinking how lucky they were when they heard a terrible growling. The dogs nearly died of fright, but Brother Gray Squirrel said that it must be his cousin, the Grizzly Bear. He went forward and bye and bye they saw him chatting away with a huge bear. Brother Squirrel told his cousin what troubles the prairie dogs had been through. The bear shuffled forward and in his gruff, kind hearted way bade them welcome and told them that if they would not steal his honey they might stay in the valley. This the dogs agreed not to do and thereafter they lived in peace, under the protection of their mighty neighbor, and you may be sure no one disturbed them.

Often in the evening the bear, after his day's hunting was over, would come down and watch the dogs at play. The mountain side would echo with his laughter as he watched the the little rascals chase each other and play their many pranks. As for the Mayor, his coat turned brown again and he grew wondrous fat; but he never lost the scar which he received from the father of the owls. The bear was always very polite to the Mayor, for he thought that he really was a great dog.

You see the little prairie dogs got into trouble all through being lazy. "What became of Brother Squirrel?" you ask. Oh, he went off just as soon as he saw his friends, the dogs, comfortably settled under the protection of his cousin, the bear. "Where is he now?" "I do not know, but he is sure to be up to mischief somewhere. Maybe we shall hear of him again some time. Who can tell?"