Seized suddenly with a vague uneasiness, Young Grumpy nosed at him curiously.

The old woodchuck's body was chill and rigid.
It created a most unpleasant impression, and, not knowing why he did so, Young Grumpy hurried forth from the dark wood and down into the sunlit pasture to which he was accustomed.
"For some days he wandered about the pasture, sleeping under stumps and in mossy hollows, and fortunately escaping, by reason of his light, rusty-gray color, the eyes of passing hawks.

At last chance, or his nose for good living, led him down to the clover meadow adjoining Anderson's barnyard.
"It was here that his adventures may be said to have begun.
"Just as he was happily filling himself with clover, a white dog, with short-cropped ears standing up stiffly, came by and stopped to look at him with bright, interested eyes.

Young Grumpy, though the stranger was big enough to take him in two mouthfuls, felt not frightened but annoyed.
He gave a chuckling squeak of defiance and rushed straight at the dog.
"Now, this was the Boy's bull terrier, Major, and he had been severely trained to let small, helpless creatures alone.

He had got it into his head that all such creatures were the Boy's property, and so to be guarded and respected.