“Yes,” said Daddy Brown.

“And I like that farmer, too,” said Sue.  “I didn’t like him at first, when he shook his fist and was so cross, but I like him now.”

“Yes, he is different from what he was at first,” returned her father.  “But I’m afraid we’ve seen the last of Tom.  He must have run away.  Maybe he was afraid, after all, that Mr. Trimble would stay cross, and would try to get him back onto the farm.  Well, it’s too bad, for Tom was a nice boy, but it can’t be helped.”

“I’d like Tom back,” said Bunny.

“So would I,” added Sue.

“What’s the matter, Splash?” asked Mr. Brown, for the big dog had run up the side of a little hill along the road, and was barking at a hole in the ground.

“Maybe he thinks the fox lives there,” said Bunny.

“Maybe,” said Daddy.  “Come on, Splash.  Even if that is the hole of the fox he isn’t there now.  You chased him too far away.  Come on!”

But Splash did not want to come.  He pawed away the dirt at the side of the hole, and put his sharp nose down inside it.

“There must be something there, Daddy,” said Bunny, standing still, and looking up the hill at the dog.  “Let’s go and see what it is.”

“If it’s a fox I’m not going!” cried Sue, holding back.

“I don’t believe it’s a fox,” said Mr. Brown.  “But we’ll take a look.  I’ll carry you, Sue, and then, even if it is some animal in the hole, you won’t be afraid.”

Sue didn’t mind going closer if her father carried her, and soon the two children, and Mr. Brown, were looking down into the hole at which Splash was barking.

All at once a light brown animal, covered with fur, and larger than the muskrat Splash had barked at in the lake, stuck its head out of the hole.

“Oh, look!” cried Bunny.  “It’s a little bear!”

“No, that’s a ground-hog, or woodchuck,” explained Mr. Brown.  “They won’t hurt you.  This must be the old father or mother, and there may be little ones in the hole, or burrow, so the old folks want Splash to go away.”

But Splash did not want to go.  He barked louder than ever at the sight of the woodchuck, and pawed at the dirt with his fore paws.  But he could not reach the brown, furry animal.

“Come away, Splash!” called Mr. Brown.

Still Splash barked.

Then, all at once, the woodchuck thrust out his head quickly, and made a grab for one of Splash’s paws.  The dog howled, and ran down the hill.

“There!” exclaimed Mr. Brown.  “Now I guess you’ll leave the woodchucks alone, Splash.”

“Oh, is Splash hurt?” asked Bunny, for the dog was running along on three legs, holding the other up off the ground.

“Oh, I guess he isn’t hurt much,” Mr. Brown said.  “Come here, Splash, until I look at your foot.”

Splash limped up.  He was not badly bitten.  The woodchuck had just pinched him to drive him away.  Splash looked at the hole and barked.  But he did not offer to go near it again.  So the old lady, or old gentleman, ground-hog—­whichever it was—­with the little ones, was left safe in the burrow on the side of the hill.