ce of bark over there that looks as if it
ought to have a dozen fat beetles under it. It's great fun to pull over
pieces of bark and see fat beetles run all ways at once. I'll just have to
see what is under that piece."

Jimmy tiptoed softly over to the big piece of bark, and then as he made
ready to turn it over, he began again that foolish little verse.

"Beetle, beetle, smooth and smug,
You are nothing but a bug."

As he said the last word, he suddenly pulled the piece of bark over.

"Who's a bug?" asked a funny voice, and it sounded rather cross. Jimmy
Skunk nearly tumbled over backward in surprise, and for a minute he
couldn't find his tongue. There, instead of the fat beetles he had been so
sure of, sat Old Mr. Toad, and he didn't look at all pleased.

"Who's a bug?" he repeated.

Instead of answering, Jimmy Skunk began to laugh. "Who's a bug?" demanded
Old Mr. Toad, more crossly than before.

"There isn't any bug, Mr. Toad, and I beg your pardon," replied Jimmy,
remembering his politeness. "I just thought there was. You see, I didn't
know you were under that piece of bark. I hope you will excuse me, Mr.
Toad. Have you seen any fat beetles this morning?"

"No," said Old Mr. Toad grumpily, and yawned and rubbed his eyes.

"Why," exclaimed Jimmy Skunk, "I believe you have just waked up!"

"What if I have?" demanded Old Mr. Toad.

"Oh, nothing, nothing at all, Mr. Toad," replied Jimmy Skunk, "only you are
the second one I've met this morning who had just waked up."

"Who was the other?" asked Old Mr. Toad.

"Mr. Blacksnake," replied Jimmy. "He inquired for you."

Old Mr. Toad turned quite pale. "I--I think I'll be moving along," said he.

XVII

OLD MR. TOAD'S MISTAKE

If is a very little word to look at, but the biggest word you have ever
seen doesn't begin to have so much meaning as little "if." _If_ Jimmy Skunk
hadn't ambled down the Crooked Little Path just when he did; _if_ he hadn't
been looking for fat beetles; _if_ he hadn't seen that big piece of bark at
one side and decided to pull it over; _if_ it hadn't been for all these
"ifs," why Old Mr. Toad wouldn't have made the mistake he did, and you
wouldn't have had this story. But Jimmy Skunk _did_ amble down the Crooked
Little Path, he _did_ look for beetles, and he _did_ pull over that big
piece of bark. And when he had pulled it over, he found Old Mr. Toad there.

Old Mr. Toad had crept under that piece of bark because he wante