alk of grass. Out of this he could peep at the white world, and he
could get the fresh cold air. Sometimes, when he was quite sure that
no one was around, he would scamper across on top of the snow from
one doorway to another, and when he did this, he made the prettiest
little footprints.

Now Reddy Fox knew all about those doorways and who made them. Reddy
was having hard work to get enough to eat this cold weather, and he
was hungry most of the time. One morning, as he came tiptoeing
softly over the meadows, what should he see just ahead of him but
the head of Danny Meadow Mouse pop out of one of those little round
doorways. Reddy's mouth watered, and he stole forward more softly
than ever. When he got within jumping distance, he drew his stout
hind legs under him and made ready to spring. Presto! Danny Meadow
Mouse had disappeared! Reddy Fox jumped just the same and began to
dig as fast as he could make his paws go. He could smell Danny
Meadow Mouse and that made him almost frantic.

All the time Danny Meadow Mouse was scurrying along one of his
little tunnels, and when finally Reddy Fox stopped digging because
he was quite out of breath, Danny popped his head out of another
little doorway and laughed at Reddy. Of course Reddy saw him, and of
course Reddy tried to catch him there, and dug frantically just as
before. And of course Danny Meadow Mouse wasn't there.

After a while Reddy Fox grew tired of this kind of a game and tried
another plan. The next time he saw Danny Meadow Mouse stick his head
out, Reddy pretended not to see him. He stretched himself out on the
ground and made believe that he was very tired and sleepy. He closed
his eyes. Then he opened them just the tiniest bit, so that he could
see Danny Meadow Mouse and yet seem to be asleep. Danny watched him
for a long time. Then he chuckled to himself and dropped out of
sight.

No sooner was he gone than Reddy Fox stole over close to the little
doorway and waited. "He'll surely stick his head out again to see if
I'm asleep, and then I'll have him," said Reddy to himself. So he
waited and waited and waited. By and by he turned his head. There
was Danny Meadow Mouse at another little doorway laughing at him!

[Illustration: Danny Meadow Mouse was laughing from another little
doorway.]

CHAPTER IV

_Old Granny Fox Tries for Danny Meadow Mouse_

Danny Meadow Mouse had not enjoyed anything so much for a long time
as he did that game of hide an