Joe Otter and Billy Mink were sitting on the Big Rock in the Smiling Pool. Because they had nothing else to do, they were planning mischief. Jerry Muskrat was busy filling his new house with food for the winter. He was too busy to get into mischief.  
Suddenly Billy Mink put a finger on his lips as a warning to Little Joe Otter to keep perfectly still. Billy's sharp eyes had seen something moving over in the bulrushes. Together he and Little Joe Otter watched, ready to dive into the Smiling Pool at the first sign of danger. In a few minutes the rushes parted and a sharp little old face peered out. Little Joe Otter and Billy Mink each sighed with relief, and their eyes began to dance. “Hi, Unc' Billy Possum!” shouted Billy Mink.
 
A grin crept over the sharp little old face peering out from the bulrushes.
 
“Hi, yo'self!” he shouted, for it really was Unc' Billy Possum.
 
“What are you doing over here?” called Little Joe Otter.
 
“Just a-looking round,” replied Unc' Billy Possum, his eyes twinkling.
 
“Have you heard about Reddy Fox?” shouted Billy Mink.
 
“Ah done jes' come from his home,” replied Unc' Billy Possum.
 
“How is he?” asked Little Joe Otter.
 
“Po'ly, he sho'ly is po'ly,” replied Unc' Billy Possum, shaking his head soberly. Then Unc' Billy told Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter how Reddy Fox was so stiff and sore and sick that he couldn't get anything to eat for himself, and how old Granny Fox had lost a chicken which she had caught for him.
 
“Serves him right!” exclai............