big, flat stone, to prevent a rabbit from
burrowing out.

[Illustration: "FUZZY CREPT UNDER THE BOX."]

This discovery almost drove her frantic, until she noticed Chatter Chuk,
who stood trembling near by.

"Here!" she called; "it was you who led my child into trouble. Now you
must get her out."

"How?" asked the red squirrel.

"Gnaw a hole in that box--quick! Gnaw faster than you ever did before in
your life. See! the box is thinnest at this side. Set to work at once,
Chatter Chuk!"

The red squirrel obeyed. The idea of saving his friend was as welcome to
him as it was to the distracted mother. He was young, and his teeth were
as sharp as needles. So he started at the lower edge and chewed the wood
with all his strength and skill, and at every bite the splinters came
away.

It was a good idea. Mrs. Wuz watched him anxiously. If only the men
would keep away for a time, the squirrel could make a hole big enough
for Fuzzy Wuz to escape. She crept around the other side of the box and
called to the prisoner: "Courage, dear one! We are trying to save you.
But if the men come before Chatter Chuk can make a hole big enough,
then, as soon as they raise the box, you must make a dash for the
bushes. Run before they can put in their hands to seize you. Do you
understand?"

"Yes, Mother," replied Fuzzy, but her voice wasn't heard very plainly,
because the squirrel was making so much noise chewing the wood.

Presently Chatter Chuk stopped.

"It makes my teeth ache," he complained.

"Never mind, let them ache," replied Mrs. Wuz. "If you stop now, Fuzzy
will die; and if she dies, I will go to Juggerjook and tell him how you
led my child into trouble."

The thought of Juggerjook made the frightened squirrel redouble his
efforts. He forgot the pain in his teeth and gnawed as no other
squirrel had ever gnawed before. The ground was covered with tiny
splinters from the box, and now the hole was big enough for the prisoner
to put the end of her nose through and beg him to hurry.

Chatter Chuk was intent on his task, and the mother was intent upon
watching him, so neither noticed any one approaching, until a net fell
over their heads, and a big voice cried, with a boisterous laugh:

"Caught! and neat as a pin, too!"

Chatter Chuk and Mrs. Wuz struggled in the net with all their might, but
it was fast around them, and they were helpless to escape. Fuzzy stuck
her nose out of the hole in the box to find out what was the