So they didn’t know what to do, and were just going to give up, when who should come bounding along but Sammie Littletail.  He knew what to do in a second.

He dug a burrow, beginning outside the berry bush, and slanting it up under the roots, so that it came out inside, right near where Buddy was crouched down inside the clump of briars.  The burrow was like a tunnel, and was big enough for Buddy to crawl out through, which he did, never getting scratched once.  They all said Sammie was very smart to think of that, and I agree with them.  Then they all played sea-saw some more, until it was time to go home.

Now in case there is a cool breeze, to blow the dust out of the poor coalman’s eyes, I’ll tell you next about Buddy and Brighteyes bringing home the cows.

STORY XXIV

BRINGING HOME THE COWS.

Not far from where Buddy and Brighteyes Pigg lived, there was a man who had a farm, and on the farm were a number of cows that gave milk.  Out of the milk butter was made, and sometimes, when the butter was all churned, the farmer’s wife would take some of the buttermilk that remained in a pail and set it down where Dr. Pigg and his family could get it.

They thought this was very kind of the farmer’s wife, and Dr. Pigg told his children that if they could ever do her a favor, they must be sure to do so.  They promised, though for some time they had no chance to do any kindness to the farmer or his wife either.  But just you wait and see what happens.

One day, in the middle of summer, when it was very hot every place, except in the cool and shady woods, Buddy and Brighteyes were strolling along under the trees near a brook, throwing pebbles in the water and floating down bits of bark and chips, which they pretended were boats sailing off to distant countries.

“Oh, dear!” exclaimed Buddy at last, “I wish I had something to do.  There’s nothing to do here.”

“Why do you always want to be doing something?” asked his sister.  “Why aren’t you content to sit here in the shady woods, and sail the boats?”

“Because,” answered Buddy, and that was the only reason he could give.  Then Brighteyes thought of a new game to play.  She took a piece of bark for her boat, and she found a nice, white chip for Buddy, and they made believe their boats were having a race down stream, and Buddy’s boat won, which made him feel quite happy.

Well, pretty soon, the sun began to go down behind the hills, and the two guinea pig children knew it was time to go home, so they started off.  But they had not gone very far before they came to a field, with a fence around it, and the field was quite hilly and stony and very large.  Near the fence sat a man, and he had one shoe off, and he was looking at his foot.