“Wait a minute!” shouted Bumper. “I think I can get you out.”

Seizing the chain with his teeth, he threw himself back on his haunches, and began pulling with all his might. It was a mighty tug of war, for besides pulling the chain and steel trap out of the hole he had to pull Browny, too. He pulled and pulled, slipping in the[21] mud, and getting all covered with it until he was no longer white. But the chain was coming, and so was the trap.

Suddenly it popped out, and right after it came Browny. The teeth of the trap had caught the tip of his tail. With the last jerk this slipped out of the trap, and Browny was free. He switched his long tail, and looked at it, but as he hadn’t lost any of it he was greatly relieved. Then he turned to the rabbit.

“Bumper,” he said, “that was a fine thing to do after the way I insulted you. If you can forgive me I’m always going to be your friend. You really saved my life, for the Hunters will soon be here.”

“That’s all right, Browny,” was the reply. “I want to be your friend.”

In the next story you will hear of how Bumper made friends with Billy the Mink.

[22]

Billy the Mink was a cousin to Gray Back the Weasel, but being much larger and more ferocious when attacked he was more to be feared. In addition to this he could swim like a duck and dive like a sto