When he caught sight of the unwelcome caller Billy sat up and took onegood, long look at him.
Then Mrs Woodchuck's son turned and ran down the hillside as fast as hisshort legs would carry him. He didn't stop until he had reached thefence between the pasture and the meadow. Dashing in among the brakesthat grew deep along the fence he cowered under the cover that they gavehim.
All at once he felt quite ashamed of himself.
"I almost forgot the rule!" he chattered. "The rule says, 'When there'sa Dog about, warn everybody!'"
XVII
THE DANGER SIGNAL
Billy Woodchuck remembered, after he had fled from old dog Spot, that heought to warn his family and his friends. So he sat up, stuck his headout of the tangle of brakes where he had hidden, and gave the dangersignal, a sharp whistle.
"Dear me!" he said. "I fear Father and Mother won't hear that. And ifthey go home they'll run upon old dog Spot. And then there's no knowingwhat might happen."
He knew that his mother had gone to see Aunt Polly Woodchuck, who livedunder the hill. And he knew that his father, with a few cronies, wasenjoying a feast in Farmer Green's clover patch.
"I'll hurry over to Aunt Polly's first," he decided, "and tell Mother tobeware the Dog."
So Billy Woodchuck scampered off toward the hill where Aunt PollyWoodchuck made her home. When he knocked at Aunt Polly's door andlearned that Mrs. Woodchuck had left some time before Billy was muchupset.
"Perhaps she went to the clover patch," Aunt Polly suggested. "You knowyour father sometimes forgets to go home unless somebody goes for him."
Well, Billy started off again. And he hadn't gone far when he heard asound that made him sit up and listen. Like all his family, he had verysharp ears. And now, after cocking his head on one side for a fewmoments, he knew that what he heard was old dog Spot grumbling andgrowling.
"My goodness!" Billy Woodchuck gasped. "He's left our house. And if Idon't look out he'll catch me."
At almost the same instant old Spot paused and sniffed the air.
"Ha!" he cried. "I smell a Woodchuck. And if I'm not mistaken it's adifferent Woodchuck from the one I chased a little while ago."
Billy Woodchuck and Spot began to run at the same time. Billy headed forhome; and Spot headed for him.
Again old dog Spot was just a bit too late. Billy Woodchuck darted intothe hole in the hillside not a second too soon. He could hear Spotpanting close behind him.
"Such luck!" Spot growled. "There's another that's got away from me.There's the second one that I've run into that hole. I suppose they'rechuckling inside their house and making all manner of fun of me."
The old dog was mistaken. Billy Woodchuck was not chuckling. He foundnobody at home. It was plain that his parents were still abroad.
"They may be coming from the clover patch now," he groaned. And ifthey are, they're sure to stumble upon that terrible creature at thedoor. I must warn them before it's too late."
While Spot was still snorting and snuffling around the Woodchuckfamily's front door, Billy Woodchuck crept out of the back door andstarted for the clover patch. Little did he know that his mother hadalready stolen out the same way, to warn him and his father.
When unwelcome callers come, a back door is sometimes a convenientthing to have about a house.
XVIII
A CROWDED HOUSE
Old dog Spot never once guessed that there was a back door to theWoodchuck family's home in the pasture. He had chased Mrs. Woodchuckinto her house. He had likewise hunted her son Billy into the same frontdoor through which his mother had scrambled only a short time before.
"There must be more of these fat folks about the pasture," Spot thought."I'll range around a bit and see if I can't surprise another."
So he began running about the pasture in big circles. And he was luckyenough, before long, to come upon Mr. Woodchuck himself, who had dinedso heartily on clover heads that he had decided to go to his chamber andtake a nap.
Spot was unlucky enough to lose him. Mr. Woodchuck had been feelingquite sleepy. But when he suddenly found himself pursued by a dog he waswide awake in an instant and running like a youngster.
He reached his home just in time.
"Well, that makes the third one that's inside the house," Spot muttered,shortly afterward, as he paused to get his breath.
Little did he know how mistaken he was. There wasn't even one of theWoodchuck family at home; for Mr. Woodchuck had at once hurried out theback way, because he wanted to find his wife and his son and tell themto keep away from old dog Spot.
Soon Spot took a few more turns around the pasture. And this time he ranacross Mrs. Woodchuck again.
He had no sooner run her to earth once more than he found Billy for thesecond time.
"This is a twin brother of the fellow I chased home once before," Spotpanted, little dreaming that Billy Woodchuck had come back into thedaylight.
"This twin is just as spry as the other one was," Spot gasped as hereached for Billy right at his door--and missed him.
After that the old dog chased Mr. Woodchuck, then his wife, and nexttheir son Billy Woodchuck. And he didn't succeed in catching any one ofthe three. Each of them beat him in the race to the Woodchuck family'sfront door.
Old Spot began to feel quite upset.
"I don't see what the matter with me to-day," he puzzled. "I hope I'mnot getting so old that I'm _weeble_." (By that he meant _weak_ and_feeble_.)
"This last one makes eight that I've followed all the way to this door,"Spot growled. "There can't be many more left in the pasture. I'm goingto lie down behind this hummock and wait till they come out."
So he hid a little way off and watched closely.
He had been there a long time when Mr. Crow at last flew low over thepasture and alighted in a tree near-by.
"What are you waiting for?" he asked Spot.
"Woodchucks!" said Spot. "This burrow is full of them."
"Are you sure?" Mr. Crow inquired.
"I chased eight of them home," Spot explained.
"That's odd," said Mr. Crow. "There have been only three living herelately. And they don't live here any more."
"They don't!" Spot cried.
"No!" Mr. Crow told him. "They moved this afternoon."
Old dog Spot sprang to his feet.
"Where did they go?" he demanded.
"Ah!" Mr. Crow croaked. "That's telling." And he would say no more.
Then Spot went back to the farmyard.
Meanwhile the Woodchuck family were working hard, digging a new home forthemselves at the other end of the pasture. They had all met at last onthe edge of the clover patch. And Mr. Woodchuck had declared that theymust move at once, because it wasn't safe to live in their old house anylonger. He said that old dog Spot would be sure to keep an eye on it forsome time.
They soon found a place that suited them all very well.
"We'll live here," said Mr. Woodchuck to his wife and their son Billy."You two can take turns digging while I sit up and watch for old dogSpot. After all the running I did to-day it wouldn't be safe for me todo any digging."
That was Mr. Woodchuck's plan. And they followed it.
XIX
OFF FOR THE CIRCUS
Great circus posters had covered one side of Farmer Green's barn forweeks. Ever since some men came and pasted them on the barn JohnnieGreen had studied them carefully. He had practiced bareback riding onhis pony, Twinkleheels. He had tried a high dive into the mill pond fromthe top of the dam. And much to old dog Spot's disgust Johnnie had triedto make him jump through a hoop covered with paper.
Spot had refused flatly to do anything of the kind. If he had known thathis young master had half a notion to teach him to jump through a hoopof fire Spot would have run away--at least until circus time had comeand gone.
"What puts all these queer ideas into Johnnie's head?" the old dog askedhis friend Ebenezer, the horse, one day.
"Don't you know?" said Ebenezer. "It's those ci
rcus pictures. Johnniewon't think of anything else until the twenty-third of August."
"What's going to happen then?" Spot inquired.
"That's the day when the circus comes to the village," the old horseexplained. "The whole family's going to see it."
"Do you expect to take them?"
"No!" Ebenezer replied. "Farmer Green will hitch the bays to thecarryall. And to tell the truth, I'll be just as pleased to stay behind.It will be a great day to take naps here at home."
"It will be a lonesome day, with everybody away," said Spot. "I believeI'll go to the circus myself."
"Farmer Green may decide to leave you here," the old horse suggested.
"Then I'll surprise him," said Spot. "I'll hide behind a tree untilFarmer Green has driven out of the yard. And then I'll follow thecarryall."
The old dog began to tell everybody in the farmyard that he was going tothe circus on the twenty-third of August. Of course some of the farmyardfolk were jealous of him. The Rooster remarked that he didn't believeSpot would hear any _crowing_ at the circus that would be worthlistening to. Turkey Proudfoot said that when it came to _strutting_ thecircus couldn't show Spot any that couldn't be beaten right there on thefarm. And Henrietta Hen, who went to the county fair the year before,declared that she shouldn't care to go to the village except to see apoultry show.
But old dog Spot didn't mind anything they said. And when thetwenty-third of August came he lingered about the farmyard. Early in themorning he saw Farmer Green run the carryall into the yard and harnessthe bays to it. Then the rest of the family came out of the house.
Spot, from his hiding place behind a tree, was pleased to see thatJohnnie Green did not forget to bring a big lunch basket with him.
At last everybody was ready to start. And then, to Spot's dismay, FarmerGreen caught sight of his nose, sticking out from behind a tree.
"That dog means to follow us," he cried. "I'll have to shut him up inthe barn." And to old Spot he called, "Come here, sir!"
Spot didn't dare disobey. With his tail between his legs he crept up tothe carryall. And though he whined and begged to be taken to the circus,Farmer Green caught hold of his collar and led him into the barn. ThenFarmer Green closed the door.
Poor Spot had to give one loud howl when he heard the wheels of thecarryall crunching on the gravel driveway.
XX
SPOT GOES TO TOWN
The bays had to step lively that morning, for Farmer Green's familydidn't want to be late for the circus parade in the village.
There were many other teams on the road, and almost nobody to be seenworking in the fields. It seemed to Johnnie Green as if everybody hadmade up his mind to go to the circus. The only thing that troubled himwas that his father didn't drive fast enough to suit him.
Half way from the farm to the village Farmer Green stopped the bays at awatering trough. Johnnie jumped out of the carryall to uncheck them, sothey could drink. And there, beneath the carriage, was old dog Spot!
"Spot's followed us!" Johnnie Green cried.
The old dog whisked out from between the wheels and frolicked aboutJohnnie. He didn't act at all guilty.
"Well, I never!" said Farmer Green. "I certainly shut the barn doorafter I shoved him inside."
Spot gave a few short, sharp barks, as if to say, "Yes! But you forgotthe window that was open."
He had scrambled through the window and overtaken the carryall before itreached the gristmill.
Well, what could Farmer Green do? They had come too far to send Spotback home.
"We'll have to take him with us now," said Johnnie Green's father,"though he'll be a nuisance because the village will be crowded to-day."
As soon as the bays had had their drink the party started on again. Andold dog Spot was content. He did not mind the dust that the bays' heelskicked up as he followed beneath the carriage. And the faster theytrotted, the more they pleased him; for he was as anxious as JohnnieGreen to get to town and see the crowds and the fun.
Once a surly dog ran out from a farmhouse and tried to reach him. Thatmade Spot somewhat uneasy.
"I don't want to stop to fight this fellow," he thought. "If I do, I'llbe left behind."
Luckily Farmer Green cut at the strange dog with his whip and bade himbe off.
Spot grinned as he sneaked away, yelping.
At last they entered the village. Main Street was thronged with people.Carriages and wagons of all sorts lined the road on bothsides--glistening buggies with red ribbons tied in bows about the whipstocks, old lumber wagons with chairs set behind the driver's seat.
Johnnie Green had never seen such a gathering--not even at the fair.
"The whole county's here!" he exclaimed. "I hope we'll find a good placeto stop, where we can see the parade."
They did. Farmer Green backed the bays into the last open space in thegutter. And Johnnie Green was greatly relieved.
The crowd made such a roar, with its talking and laughter, that old Spotcowered down under the carryall and almost wished he had stayed at home.The cries of men selling peanuts and popcorn, squawkers and toyballoons, mingled with the shouts of small boys and the squeals of theirsisters.
"Goodness!" Spot murmured. "What a racket! It hurts my ears."
A moment later he stuck his nose out from beneath the carriage and burstinto a mournful howl.
"Keep still!" Farmer Green ordered.
Little did he know, then, what made Spot cry like that. But in a minuteor two Johnnie Green heard the same thing that Spot's sharp ears hadcaught first. And Johnnie howled too.
"Hear the band!" he shouted. "Hurrah! The parade's coming!"
XXI
THE CIRCUS PARADE
The crash and blare of the circus band came nearer and nearer. JohnnieGreen craned his neck out of the carryall, as it stood at the side ofMain Street, and tried to get a glimpse of the parade.
Old dog Spot did not howl again, but stole out beside the bays andlooked up the street too.
Soon a man with a tall, shiny hat on his head rode a proud, prancinghorse around a corner. And behind him six more horses with gay plumes ontheir bridles made a wide turn as they swung into view. On top of thehigh red wagon that they drew sat the band, all in red suits andplaying away like mad.
Spot couldn't help whining. Although the bandsmen were playing theliveliest air they knew, music always made Spot sad. And he was gladwhen the band wagon had passed on.
Other wagons, blazoned with red and gold, followed.
Old dog Spot's hair began to rise along his back and he sniffed,growling. He had noticed a strange mixture of the queerest odors. Hedidn't know, for a moment, whether to run away or not.
"Oh, see the tiger!" Johnnie Green shouted. "And the lions! And themonkeys! And the bear!"
"_See_ them!" Spot yelped. "I say, _smell_ them!"
He felt better when the animals in their cages had gone creaking past.And he forgot his uneasiness as he watched dozens of horses, ridden byfolk whose bespangled clothes glittered in the sunlight.
Then came a funny man in a little, two-wheeled cart, driving a donkey.This was the clown. He bowed and smiled to everybody, right and left,and even threw kisses at some of the girls. His painted face, hisbag-like clothes, and his odd little round, pointed hat made JohnnieGreen laugh. And to Johnnie's great delight, when the clown saw Spot hewhistled.
Old Spot was all for dashing out into the street. But Farmer Greenwouldn't let him do that. Spot had to be content with barking at theclown.
Then a man on a brisk little horse came down the street. He had a bigvoice. And he kept using it all the time, shouting so everybody wouldbe sure to hear, "Look out for your bosses! The elephants are coming!"
And they came. The elephants came. When Spot saw their huge formsplodding down Main Street he dived beneath the carryall again andshivered until the last one had passed along.
The bays stirred restlessly as the elephants neared them. And theyounger of the pair snorted with fear.
Farmer Green talked to them in a soothing voice and told them therewasn't any danger. But nobody thought of talking to old dog Spot. Everyone forgot about him. And he was just as badly frightened as the bays,especially when a terrible tooting and screeching burst forth.
Spot jumped almost out of his skin.
"Sakes alive!" he howled. "What awful voices the elephants have!"
"The steam calliope!" Johnnie Green cried. "And that's the end of theparade."
XXII
THE CIRCUS GROUNDS
The Green family ate their luncheon in the carryall on Main Street,after the circus parade had passed. They didn't forget to give old dogSpot something to eat out of the big basket that they had brought withthem from home. Although they hadn't expected him to go to the villagewith them, there was more than enough food for everybody. Even JohnnieGreen's appetite wasn't equal to all the goodies that his mother hadprovided.
People were already starting for the circus grounds on the outskirts ofthe village. Johnnie Green noticed them uneasily.
"We don't want to be late for the show," he reminded his father.
"We'll get there in time," Farmer Green assured him.
And they did. Soon they followed the crowd through the village streetsuntil they came in sight of the "big top," the great tent with flagsflying above it, and smaller tents all around.