There were lots and lots of the prairie dogs,
millions and millions of them, Bill said."
"There'd have been still more if it hadn't been for the little owls,"
said Uncle Andy with a grin. But seeing a grieved look on the Child's
face, and remembering that he himself was none too fond of having his
narratives broken in upon, he hastened to add politely, but pointedly,
"I beg your pardon for interrupting. Please go on!"
"Well, as I was going to say," continued the Child, in quite his
Uncle's manner, "Bill saw--he saw them himself, with his own
eyes--these millions and thousands of prairie dogs, and quite a lot of
the little owls, and only just a very few of the rattlesnakes. So, you
see, it looks as if the owls must have eaten some of the snakes, and,
anyhow, I think Bill was telling the truth _this_ time."
"Well," said Uncle after puffing at his pipe for a few complimentary
moments of reflection, "there's one important thing which Bill appears
to have neglected. He doesn't seem to have inquired the views of the
prairie dogs on the subject. Now, if he'd got _their_ opinion--"
"But how _could_ he?" protested the Child reproachfully. He was always
troubled when Uncle Andy displayed anything like a frivolous strain.
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