Badger heard the noise and came from his study.
"Hello, Otter," he said.
"Is it still snowing?"
"Just a few flakes," said Otter.
"Okay, boys, time to go home," Badger said.
Billy and his brother put on their mittens.
"Good-bye!" cried the hedgehogs.
After they left, Rat and Otter sat together.
They loved to talk about the river.
"I love your home," Mole said to Badger.
"It's so much like my own."
Badger took some bacon from the pan.
"An underground home is always safe," he said.
"Oh yes," Mole agreed.
"Nothing can happen to you," said Badger.
"And if your house is too small . . . "
"You just dig a little," said Mole, smiling.
"Come. I'll show you!" cried Badger.
"Right this way."
Badger took a lantern from the wall.
He went down a hallway.
Mole jumped out of his chair and followed.
Badger showed Mole many rooms and hallways.
"Look at all the rooms you have!" said Mole.
He was amazed by the size of Badger's home.
"This room is as big as Toad Hall," Mole said.
The next room was as small as a closet.
Each hallway led to more rooms.
"Incredible! How did you do all this?" asked Mole.
"I didn't do it," said Badger.
"You didn't?" asked Mole, confused.