Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3 UDDERLY HOPELESS The henhouse was a loud and busy place. Zeke was still a very sticky mouse. "You look like a chicken," said Fergus. "Are you going to lay some eggs?" "No, but you just gave me an egg-cellent idea!" Zeke looked around. "Where are the eggs?"

"I think the chickens are sitting on them," said Fergus. "That's right," said Zeke. "In the book Miss Maxwell read, a girl reached under the hens to collect eggs. That is what we need to do. You can go first." Fergus walked up to a hen. She did not seem happy about a mouse collecting her eggs.

"Be sure to tell her 'Egg-scuse me!" Zeke said. Fergus reached toward the nest. "Excuse me, hen," he said. BAGAWK! "I don't like eggs all that much," said Fergus. "Maybe we should tour another part of the farm." "Okay," said Zeke. "We'll go to the barn and milk some cows." "Cowsseem very big," said Fergus. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" "Absolutely!" said Zeke. "Everyone knows cows are much friendlier than chickens. Follow me!"

The cows were not unfriendly. But they were not quite friendly, either. They hardly noticed Fergus and Zeke at all. "The man in Miss Maxwell's book got milk by pulling on those udder things?" Zeke pointed underneath the cow. "You should give that a try."