<div><h1 id='ch14'>CHAPTER XIV<br/> <span class='sub-head'>BILLY HAS GOOD HUNTING</span></h1></div>
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<p class='line0'>He longest lives who runs away</p>
<p class='line0'>When danger lurks along the way.</p>
<p class='line0'>                  <span class='it'>Billy Mink.</span></p>
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<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Billy Mink</span> loves to hunt. He
is one of the best hunters among
the little people of the Green
Forest and the Green Meadows.
Not even Reddy Fox is a better
hunter than Billy Mink. In the
first place, Billy has a wonderful
nose. He can follow the scent of
a Mouse quite as well as can Reddy
Fox. Then, too, Billy possesses
sharp ears.</p>
<p class='pindent'>The instant Billy caught the
scent of Robber the Rat at the
edge of the hole in the floor of
that barn, he forgot all about the
hens over in the henhouse. He
popped up through the hole on
to the barn floor and his nose
found the scent of Robber the Rat
stronger than ever. Billy began
to follow it just as Bowser the
Hound follows the scent of Reddy
Fox. It led straight over to a
grain bin. Just as Billy reached
one end of the grain bin, a big
gray Rat, with two others at his
heels, scrambled out of the other
end of the grain bin and with
squeaks of fright scampered away.
How they had known of his coming,
Billy didn’t know. Probably
they had smelled him, for Billy has
quite a strong scent of his own.
Anyway, they had discovered his
presence.</p>
<p class='pindent'>With a bound Billy was after
them. Almost at once the three
Rats separated. Billy didn’t hesitate.
He followed the largest one.
He followed him with his nose;
that was all he needed to guide
him.</p>
<p class='pindent'>Now that Rat knew every nook
and corner and every hiding-place
in that big barn. Also he knew
that there was no place big enough
for him to get into which Billy
Mink could not get into too, and
fear gave speed to his legs. Behind
and under boxes, over grain
bins, squeezing through narrow
places and racing across open
places, the Rat ran, with Billy
behind him. At last he was cornered.</p>
<p class='pindent'>Instantly that Rat changed completely.
He whirled about and
faced Billy Mink, showing savage
teeth. He was big and strong and
he intended to fight. For just an
instant Billy Mink stopped. Now
a Rat is quick but Billy Mink is
quicker. That Rat was no coward.
He fought and he fought hard, but
he fought in vain. He could not
get those wicked-looking teeth of
his into Billy. In less time than
it takes to tell it, the fight was
over and Billy Mink had his
dinner.</p>
<p class='pindent'>Now Billy knew all about Robber
the Rat and his relatives. He
knew that they were outcasts
among all the little people of the
Green Forest and the Green
Meadows. He knew that not a
single thing could be said in their
favor. He knew that the Great
World would be a better place for
everybody if there were no Brown
Rats in it.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“There is good hunting here,”
muttered Billy, as he turned to go
back to his new home under the
woodpile. “As long as there is
such good hunting here in this
barn, I’ll keep away from the
henhouse.” Then he went home
and curled up for a nap.</p>
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