billy woodchuck remembered, after he had fled from old dog spot, that he ought to warn his family and his friends. so he sat up, stuck his head out of the tangle of brakes where he had hidden, and gave the danger signal, a sharp whistle.

"dear me!" he said. "i fear father and mother won't hear that. and if they go home they'll run upon old dog spot. and then there's no knowing what might happen."

he knew that his mother had gone to see aunt polly woodchuck, who lived under the hill. and he knew that his father, with a few cronies, was enjoying a feast in farmer green's clover patch.

"i'll hurry over to aunt polly's first," he decided, "and tell mother to beware the dog."

so billy woodchuck scampered off toward the hill where aunt polly woodchuck made her home. when he knocked at aunt polly's door and learned that mrs. woodchuck had left some time before billy was much upset.

"perhaps she went to the clover patch," aunt polly suggested. "you know your father sometimes forgets to go home unless somebody goes for him."

well, billy started off again. and he hadn't gone far when he heard a sound that made him sit up and listen. like all his family, he had very sharp ears. and now, after cocking his head on one side for a few moments, he knew that what he heard was old dog spot grumbling and growling.

"my goodness!" billy woodchuck gasped. "he's left our house. and if i don't look out he'll catch me."

at almost the same instant old spot paused and sniffed the air.

"ha!" he cried. "i smell a woodchuck. and if i'm not mistaken it's a different woodchuck from the one i chased a little while ago."

billy woodchuck and spot began to run at the same time. billy headed for home; and spot headed for him.

again old dog spot was just a bit too late. billy woodchuck darted into the hole in the hillside not a second too soon. he could hear spot panting close behind him.

"such luck!" spot growled. "there's another that's got away from me. there's the second one that i've run into that hole. i suppose they're chuckling inside their house and making all manner of fun of me."

the old dog was mistaken. billy woodchuck was not chuckling. he found nobody at home. it was plain that his parents were still abroad.

"they may be coming from the clover patch now," he groaned. and if they are, they're sure to stumble upon that terrible creature at the door. i must warn them before it's too late."

while spot was still snorting and snuffling around the woodchuck family's front door, billy woodchuck crept out of the back door and started for the clover patch. little did he know that his mother had already stolen out the same way, to warn him and his father.

when unwelcome callers come, a back door is sometimes a convenient thing to have about a house.