What happened in Part 1:
Detective Digger McDirt and his assistant, and companion, Sergeant Shagpoat Shrewman, set out in search of a new home for the mole colony. The food supply, at their old home under the Greenway Golf Course, was almost destroyed by the chemicals used to keep the grassy fairways green and beautiful. Digger and Shagpoat found the perfect home for the colony in the old Golden Glen Cemetery. Hoppin' Robin, who lived in the cemetery, told them there was a bountiful food supply for the colony, but they should watch for THINGS in the night. Digger and Shagpoat returned home in the Rooter Roadster to tell the colony they had found their new home.

PART TWO

Detective Digger McDirt and Sergeant Shagpoat Shrewman sped through the tunnels in the Rooter Roadster heading for the home of the mole colony under the Greenway Golf Course.

They arrived at the entrance to the meeting hall and Shagpoat carefully parked the Rooter Roadster.

"Shag," McDirt said. "Check the Roadster carefully after the meeting. Our terrible accident with that infernal machine in the Golden Glen Cemetery left a few dents, and who knows what else. Be sure it is in top running condition for our trip tomorrow with the colony."

"Right, sir," Shag replied. "There are a few problems, I believe." Detective McDirt and Shag entered the meeting hall. Instead of cheers of welcome from the mole colony, silence greeted them. Detective McDirt knew right away what the problem was.

Shag looked at Digger and whispered, "What's wrong with them? They're much too quiet. What is it?"

Digger sadly shook his head and replied, "They have run out of food. They're weak with hunger, Shag. We are faced with a serious problem."

Digger took his place on the mound in front of the colony and began to tell them about finding a new home. He described the old Golden Glen Cemetery, and spoke at great length about the food supply. He told about the fat worms, grubs and crickets waiting to be eaten. As he talked, the colony began to stir and become excited just hearing about the bountiful food supply.

Digger then asked them a very important question.

"Can you tell me, brothers and sisters, do you have the strength to begin the journey to our new home tomorrow? We must leave early in the morning."

Tom Tellitall chose to answer. "We are all badly in need of food, Detective. The sooner we leave, while we have some strength left, the quicker we will find food."

"You are right, Tom," Digger replied. "Let me consult with Sergeant Shagpoat about a time to leave."

McDirt and Shag talked in soft voices. "What do you think, Shag?" Digger asked. "Could we begin our journey tonight and perhaps go halfway?"

Shag quickly replied, "Once we are out from under the golf course, we can stop where the food supply is good and allow the colony to eat. If they can make it halfway, the second half will go quickly after they eat and regain their strength. We should leave tonight."

"Good, I'll see what they think of this idea," Digger said.

McDirt presented the new idea to the colony and they answered with excitement and spirit. "Let's leave now!" they hollered.

Shag was leaping around yelling, ''Shazam! Shazam!''

McDirt shouted at him, "Shag, settle down. Save your energy. Can you make the necessary repairs to the Roadster and have it running will enough to leave tonight?"

"Yes, sir," Shag replied. We can lead the way with the Roadster, and, if it breaks down, the colony can push us the rest of the way."

"That is if they're strong enough," Digger said. "We'll have to take our chances. We can't wait any longer."

McDirt once again stood before the colony. He carefully explained that they would gather in the main tunnel and leave as soon as everyone was present.

Shag immediately began checking out all the controls in the Rooter Roadster. Sitting nervously behind the wheel, he made several necessary adjustments. The direction-finder was off a few degrees. That, alone, could be a serious flaw. They could get lost. One wheel was slightly loose and Shag hurriedly tightened it. He had just finished washing the windshields, when Digger appeared.

"Were there many repairs, Shag?" he asked.

"No,sir. Only one problem which I fixed," said Shag.

"You've done excellent work, my friend," Digger said. "I won't forget it. The colony is present in the main tunnel, ready to leave. Drive the Roadster to the head of the line and we will be off."

McDirt thoughtfully studied the way the colony had lined up. He called for attention and silence.

"I would like to have you line up as follows," McDirt announced. "I want half of the younger moles at the front of the line, the women, children, and older moles in the middle, followed by the rest of the younger moles bringing up the rear."

"This is very confusing," Shag said. "Now the men are arguing about who is the oldest and youngest."

"HEAR THIS!" McDirt shouted "I don't want the women and children and older moles pushing the Roadster if we break down. Line up as ordered, and stop arguing about your age."

With much scrambling, the moles sorted themselves into their places. Shag and Digger climbed into the Rooter Roadster. Because of the weakness of the colony, they could not travel fast. They slowly moved through the tunnels toward the old Golden Glen Cemetery.

The Rooter Roadster putted and pinged along, making Shag nervous and worrisome. It did not sound in top running condition. However, the direction-finder was accurate and indicated when they had reached the halfway mark of the journey. It was time to eat.

Shag stopped the Roadster and Digger stood up in the front seat.

"Everyone," he announced. "It is time to eat! We are out from under the Greenway Golf Course and you may leave the line-up to search for food. When you have eaten enough, please, return to this place and we will once again begin our journey. Good hunting to you all."

Turning to Shag he said, "Come on, let's eat. I'm starving."

The moles ran in every direction, pushing aside the cold, brown earth, devouring fat worms, grubs and insects, the likes of which, they had not eaten in a long time. The more they found to eat, the faster they ate. When their strength began to return and they headed back to the Roadster and the line-up.

With eagerness and energy, the colony resumed the journey to their new home. They moved along rapidly and soon arrived at the old Golden Glen Cemetery. They were all eager to test the food supply.

Digger once again stopped their parade and said to the colony, "I want you to see what the Golden Glen Cemetery looks like. We will go to the surface, now, and I will tell you about several important things. Continue to follow behind the Roadster."

The moment they arrived above ground, they were greeted by the friendly chirpping of Hoppin' Robin.

"Welcome! Welcome!" Hoppin' said. "We have been waiting for you to arrive."

Digger and Shag were pleased and surprised by Hoppin' Robin's warm welcome. The whole flock of Robins brought juicy worms and bugs for the colony to eat, and they shared the bountiful food supply while getting acquainted.

Suddenly, a Robin perched high in a tree, began to call in a loud voice. With a great flapping of wings and squawking, the flock of Robins flew up into the tree. Hoppin' Robin excitedly called to Digger and Shag that a black snake had been spotted heading through the grass towards the colony.

Detective McDirt took charge immediately. He ordered the colony to quickly go below ground. Knowing that a large snake was in the area, sent nervous spasms of fright through each and every mole. They knew that moles, mice and shrews make choice eating for snakes.

Like magic, the colony disappeared below ground. Detective McDirt ordered Sergeant Shagpoat to start the Rooter Roadster. He took his place in the front seat.

"Detective, wh-wh-what are you going to-to-do?" Shag asked, shivering with anticipation.

"We are going to drive off this snake, Sergeant." McDirt replied. "We will not have our new home threatened by this critter-eating reptile."

From up in the tree, the Robins were calling, "Hurry! Do something! The snake is moving directly toward you."

"I can see it," McDirt called back. "Full speed ahead, Sergeant. FORE!"

"Fore? What's Fore?" Shag yelled.

"It's what the golfers call on the golf course. It means LOOK OUT!" McDirt answered: "Go, now, Shag."

The Roadster's starter sputtered and died. Shag gave it another try. The motor started and they began to move.

"Faster," McDirt hollered. "Straight ahead."

Shag revved the motor, and they picked up speed, but he was shaking badly and it was hard for him to keep a grip on the steering wheel.

McDirt began the spinning action of the long Rooter on the front of the Roadster.

"You're right on course, Sergeant," McDirt yelled. "Give her all she's got."

The Robins watched and cheered from the branches overhead. Higher up in the tree, the old owl looked down on their pursuit of the snake, nodding his head, saying, "This is a hoot. A real hoot."

The snake was very long, very black, and moving very fast.

The distance between the Roadster and the snake grew shorter. Neither the Roadster, nor the snake, changed course. They went for each other head-on.

They crashed. The Rooter bored into the nose of the snake between its nostrils. McDirt reversed the Rooter and tried to draw it from the snakes' nose, but it was firmly attached. The snake pulled back and raised its head. The Roadster was lifted into the air. Then, the Rooter came loose from the snakes' nose and the Roadster fell to the ground.

Without missing a second, Shag veered the Roadster away from the snake and drove behind a headstone.

Cheers and chirps were heard from the flock of Robins.

"You did it, Detective and Shag," Hoppin' Robin called.

McDirt and Shag watched from behind the headstone as the snake curled up and slowly raised its head.

"Look what you've done to my lovely nose." she hissed at them. "I'm ruined for life. I wasn't going to harm you. I'm a vegetarian. I don't eat critters like you anymore. You give me indigestion. I only eat fresh greens." Tears ran from her eyes and she blinked at them sadly.

"Don't listen to her," warned Hoppin' Robin. "She could be lying."

McDirt and Shag watched as the snake unwound herself and slithered off through the grass, crying and sobbing.

"I feel kind of bad," McDirt said. "How were we to know she was a vegetarian?"

Shag was still shaking. "She should take her vegetarian self to the golf course and eat some of the chemically treated weeds, " he said.

"Good job, Shag," McDirt said.

"You, too, sir," Shag replied. "You were dead on with the Rooter. Saved our lives, you did."

One by one, the members of the colony surfaced and gathered around their heros, McDirt and Shag.

"It's time to celebrate," McDirt proclaimed. "Let's eat."

Later that evening, Spade McDirt, Digger's cousin, came to Digger with a request. The colony wanted to hold a meeting. They had some questions that needed to be answered.

Digger agreed and they met in one of the tunnels, since they did not have a meeting hall.

Detective McDirt took his place in front of the group and Spade McDirt was called upon to speak.

"Please, cousin," Spade said. "We would like you to explain what we need to watch out for as we dig our tunnels and search for food. Are there any dangers that we should know about here in Golden Glen Cemetery? What are these big stones with the writing on them?"

McDirt told them that the stones were called headstones. Each headstone marked the grave of a person who had died and was buried deep in the ground in front of the stone in a box called a coffin. The writing was the person's name.

The moles began to chatter among themselves and McDirt called for order.

"What is the problem, Spade? Why is the colony so upset?"

Spade replied, "They are worried they will bash into a box, or coffin, as you called it, while digging."

"There should be no danger for any of you," Digger explained. "The coffins are buried very deeply in front of the headstones. It is unlikely any of you would be traveling deep enough to run into one. If you like, I will take you on a short trip and prove to you I'm right. If everyone will follow me, we will surface."

Up and out of the tunnel, the colony surfaced and followed McDirt. He stopped in front of an old headstone. It was dark with age and moss crept up the side of it. The letters on the front were nearly worn away by the years of weather.

"Now, follow me, my friends, and we will go below ground and cross in front of the headstone. I will prove to you there is nothing you can crash into," McDirt said.

Shag followed behind McDirt as he tunneled through the earth. Then, BAM! McDirt bashed into a box directly in front of the headstone. He staggered back, rubbing his nose.

The colony gathered around to see if he had been hurt. His sensitive pink nose was red and beginning to swell, but, otherwise he was fine.

Meanwhile, Shag began pulling the dirt away from the box.

"I don't think this looks like a coffin," Shag said. "It's just an old wooden box. Not very big, at that."

Shag stopped digging and leaned against the box to rest. He turned to McDirt and the colony.

"This is something else," he said.

Suddenly there was a cracking and splintering sound and Shag was falling into the box as the rotten wooden side gave way.

Shag fell down, and a river of brilliant beads, shining jewels and golden coins came pouring out, almost drowning him in their splendor.

"Shazam!" he shouted. "This looks like buried treasure. I think we've struck it rich."

The colony stood open-mouthed and silent as they gazed upon the sparkling jewels and coins.

Detective Digger McDirt looked over his swollen, red nose and shook his head sadly, saying, "This is trouble! Trouble! I foresee nothing but trouble for all of us."

END OF PART TWO

What does Digger McDirt mean by trouble for the colony?
Is the snake really a vegetarian? find out when you
Read The Next Chapter of the Adventure of Digger McDirt..

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