he was thinking how easy it was going to be to catch Paddy the
Beaver, and what a splendid meal he would make. He licked his
chops at the thought.

"He doesn't know I know he's here," thought Old Man Coyote. "In
fact, I don't believe heaven knows that I am anywhere around. Of
course he won't be watching for me. He cuts his trees at night,
so all I will have to do is to hide right close by where he is at
work, and he'll walk right into my mouth. Sammy Jay knows I was
up there this morning, but Sammy sleeps at night, so he will not
give the alarm. My, my, how good that Beaver will taste!" He
licked his chops once more, then yawned and closed his eyes for a
nap.

Old Man Coyote waited until jolly, round red Mr. Sun had gone to
bed behind the Purple Hills, and the Black Shadows had crept out
across the Green Meadows. Then, keeping in the blackest of them,
and looking very much like a shadow of himself, he slipped into
the Green Forest. It was dark in there, and he made straight for
Paddy's new pond, trotting along swiftly without making a sound.
When he was near the aspen trees which he knew Paddy was planning
to cut, he crept forward very slowly and carefully. Everything
was still as still could be.

"Good!" thought Old Man Coyote. "I am here first, and now all I
need do is to hide and wait for Paddy to come ashore."

So he stretched himself flat behind some brush close beside the
little path Paddy had made up from the edge of the water and
waited. It was very still, so still that it seemed almost as if