he
Chickens will soon be getting up."

So Benny said good-by. And Mr. Fox tried to say good-by, too; but
somehow he choked over the words, and began to cough so violently that
Benny Badger was quite alarmed.

He waited anxiously until he saw that Mr. Fox was out of danger. And
then he left him.

If he had looked back he might have seen his sly friend capering about
in the gray light as if something amused him hugely. And no doubt Benny
would have wondered what it could have been.

"Prairie Chickens!" Mr. Fox was chuckling. "Much they'll tell _him_
about eggs!"

XII

THE PRAIRIE CHICKEN

After he left Mr. Fox, Benny Badger hurried here and there and
everywhere in search of a prairie chicken.

He found one, after a time. But the lady wouldn't stop to talk with him.
The moment she spied Benny she _whirred_ into the air and flew off,
though she certainly must have heard him calling to her.

But at last, just as red streaks began to shoot up in the eastern sky,
Benny caught sight of a stately dame who was so busy catching
grasshoppers for her breakfast that she hadn't noticed him.

He did not dare go too near her, for fear of scaring her. So he called
to her in as gentle a tone as he could, saying, "Don't be alarmed,
madam! I only want to ask you a question."

The prairie chicken stretched her neck as high as she was able, and
looked all around.

"Here I am!" Benny sang out from a grassy hummock.

The startled lady saw that he was not near enough to be dangerous. So
she asked him, with a proud air, what his question might be.

"I'm interested in birds' eggs," Benny explained. "Have you any, madam?"

The prairie chicken took a few steps towards him, in a very grand
manner.

"Yes, indeed!" she answered. "I have a baker's dozen! They are the most
beautiful eggs I've ever seen--though perhaps I shouldn't say so. . . .
They're speckled with brownish specks," she continued.

"How interesting!" Benny Badger exclaimed. "I must have a look at those
eggs. Where is your nest, madam?"

And just then the prairie chicken did a strange thing. Without a word of
warning she sprang into the air and sailed away, leaving Benny Badger to
gaze after her, and wonder why she hadn't answered his question.

He soon made up his mind that he would find her nest, anyhow.

Now, since there wasn't a tree anywhere in the neighborhood, Benny felt
quite sure that the lady's nest must be on the ground. And since he knew
that