Stopping often to listen, Benny Badger did not reach the Ground Squirrel\'s chamber half as quickly as he could have had he done nothing but dig.

And when he thrust his nose into the underground bedroom he found nobody at home. The Ground Squirrel had fled, leaving his nest so warm that Benny Badger knew he could not have been gone long.

Benny turned away. But he was not so disappointed as he might have been, for he remembered that Mr. Coyote was watching the back door. And certainly[43] no Ground Squirrel could escape his sharp eyes.

Hurrying as fast as his short legs would carry him, Benny joined Mr. Coyote, who still sat comfortably on his haunches.

To Benny\'s surprise, his helper\'s eyes were closed, instead of being fixed on the Ground Squirrel\'s back door.

"Have you seen anything of the Ground Squirrel?" Benny demanded anxiously.

Mr. Coyote started, and opened his eyes.

"Somebody came out a few moments ago," he replied. "But he disappeared in no time."

"That\'s too bad!" Benny Badger wailed. "He got away!"

"Are you sure?" Mr. Coyote inquired.

"Why, yes!" Benny cried. "It\'s as plain as the nose on your face."

"I won\'t dispute you," said Mr. Coyote.[44]

"You\'d better not!" Benny Badger snapped. "You have been very careless. I don\'t believe you watched carefully enough. When I came up just now you had your eyes shut."

"I won\'t dispute you," said Mr. Coyote again. He was most polite&mdash............