realized that he must act--and act quickly.

"Maybe I'll bite his nose," he said to himself. "But I want to peep at
him first."

So Master Meadow Mouse left his nest and crept a short distance until he
could peer out from a chink between two cornstalks. In the moonlight he
had a fine view of Fatty Coon. And as he stared at the intruder Meadow
Mouse shuddered.

"No!" he exclaimed. "No! I never could fight him. I wouldn't dare bite
his nose. He's far, far too big for me to tackle."

There was no denying that Fatty Coon looked both huge and dangerous.
Across his face was a black mask which only added to his horrid
appearance. And through the mask his eyes shone green and greedy right
into the frightened ones of Master Meadow Mouse.

One good look was enough for Master Meadow Mouse. He drew back
hurriedly. Through his mind there flashed a saying of his mother's that
he had not thought of for a long time: "He that fights and runs away
will live to fight another day."

"I'll run first," Master Meadow Mouse decided. "Then perhaps I shan't
have to fight at all."

Then he stole out of the shock of corn, on the opposite side. And when
Fatty Coon pawed his way through to the nest he found it empty.

He gave a wail of anger and dismay.

"He's gone! The Meadow Mouse has gone!" Fatty bawled. "And I'll warrant
he was a fat one, too. It's always the fattest ones that get away. And
nobody can deny that this one was living high."

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

15

The Flood

"THIS means another move for me," said Master Meadow Mouse. Fatty Coon
had broken into the house in the shock of corn where Master Meadow Mouse
had been living. And Master Meadow Mouse had fled.

Somehow he felt that a change of scene would be good for him. Although
he had dwelt but a short time in the cornfield, he had no longer any
desire to stay there. For Fatty Coon had given him a great fright. There
was no denying that.

"It seems as if I were always moving," Master Meadow Mouse mused. "It's
lucky for me the world is wide. Thank goodness there's plenty of places
left where I can go. I've tried the meadow, Farmer Green's woodpile, the
tangle beside the pasture fence and the cornfield. And now--now let me
see! I believe I'll settle along Black Creek, under the bank."

He was talking with Long Bill Wren, who had a nest in a marshy spot near
the creek.

"Oh, don't make yourself a home under the bank!" Long Bill cried. "The
fall ra