What happened in Part 4:
Detective Digger McDirt, Sgt. Shagpoat Shrewman and all of the mole colony are saddened over the theft of the gold necklace and gold coins stolen by the Crows. These gold pieces, left as a gift for the poor, young girl, are now part of the Crow's collection of shiny pieces hidden in the hollow of the tree. Digger, Shag and even Hoppin' Robin and Owl, discuss how they can get the gifts back from the Crows.

Three days of heavy rain send Digger and the colony off to rebuild the damage and leaking the downpour brought to their new underground home. Digger and Shag make a new friend, Giddy Ghost, a squirrel, who helps them move a rock to the main tunnel entrance. They use the rock to seal off water that is pouring in and flooding tht unnels.

Meanwhile, the Crows await a visit from Great Grandfather Crow who is coming to inspect their new home in Old Golden Glen Cemetery.

PART FIVE

Digger McDirt, Shag and all the other creatures in the old Golden Glen Cemetery watched carefully as Great Grandfather Crow sat in the top of the oak tree resting from his journey. He has made this trip just to inspect the new home the Crows had chosen.

Shag looked up at Great Grandfather and whispered to Digger, "He's not as big as I thought he would be."

Digger whispered back, "He's big enough, Shag. He has a great air of authority about him."

"Air...air?" Shag questioned. "I don't feel any breeze."

"No, no." Digger said, shaking his head. "The word 'air' can be used to describe the way he makes you feel. He makes me feel like he's the boss."

"Oh, I see." Shag said. "I'll try and remember 'air'."

The daylight was fading now, and the sun had settled behind the trees. The full moon appeared in the eastern sky.

Great Grandfather and the rest of the Crows retired for the night. Only the chirping of the Robins, having a late night snack of worms, could be heard.

"Looks like nothing exciting will be happening in the Crow tree until tomorrow," Tom Tellitall said, yawning.

"Let's all call it a day and head for home." Digger said.

"LLLLook," Shag stammered, nervously, pointing at the sky. "It's the full mmmoon. That's a bbbad sign. Remember what Hoppin' Robin said about things in the nnnight, especially when there's a full mmmoon?"

"Don't fret, Shag." Digger said, gently. "We will be safe in our underground home."

The moon spread its light over the Golden Glen Cemetery and made long, dark shadows around the headstones. Chattering noises could be heard near the entrance gate as three critters, one large and two small, came down the moonlit path. It was Rachel Racoon and her children, Rack and Ruin, returning home.

"Thank goodness we're back home." Rachel sighed. "Vacations are wonderful, but it's nice to be home."

"We had fun in the city." Rack said.

"Yeah, there were more garbage cans to raid and more good stuff to do." Ruin added.

"Well, we're home, now and we must get back to our routine." Rachel said. "You two will have to begin behaving better and mind what I say. "You were out of control in the city."

Owl was awake in his tree. It was time for him to begin looking for dinner. Owl loved the moonlight because it made spotting field mice all the better. Then, he spied Rachel, with Rack and Ruin, coming down the path.

"Hoo, Hoo," Owl hooted. "They're back! I was hoping they were gone for good. Wonder if Rachel has been able to control those two ransacking kids of hers? Hooo, we're in for trouble, now. Between the new flock of Crows, and the Racoons, the Old Golden Glen Cemetery may never be the same. Wait till the Crows find out they will be sharing the old Oak tree with the Racoons."

Rack looked up and saw Owl flying out of his tree. "Hey, there's old Owl up there. Hi, Owl, Hi! We're back home," Rack yelled.

Owl tipped his head and peered down at Rack. "Boo-Hoo, Boo-Hoo," He cried back at Rack.

"Not a very friendly welcome," Rachel said.

"Let's go up in our Oak tree, and see if it's still the same," Ruin said.

"Not now," Rachel replied. "We need to find something to eat. We've been on a long trip and I'm starving."

"Good idea!" Ruin said. "Why don't we check out the garbage can behind the cemetery caretaker's cottage? He always has good eats."

"Let's do it." Rachel said.

The three Racoons scampered through the headstones to the caretaker's cottage. They struggled with the lid on the garbage can until it popped off with a crash. The can fell over and a variety of stale bread and odds and ends of leftovers spilled out on the grass.

As they eagerly rummaged through the garbage, Ruin said, "Well, this isn't bad, but city garbage cans are a lot better."

"Just be grateful and eat," Rachel replied, pulling a slice of stale bread from the wrapper.

They ate for a long time, and finally left a terrible mess to go visit the little brook that ran behind the cemetery. Rachel insisted on cleanliness, and they washed their paws in the brook and drank the cool, clear water.

Owl was back in his tree when he saw the Racoons making their way through the headstones toward their home in the Oak tree. He chuckled to himself and said, "I will have to stay awake to see what happens when they find out the Crows moved into their tree while they were away."

Rachel, Rack and Ruin quickly climbed the tree and peered into the hollow hole where they usually slept.

Rachel shook her head in dismay. "I can't believe it, but the two of you grew so much while we were away, that we won't be able to fit into the hollow hole anymore."

"No, no, " Rack said, sticking his head into the hole. "I can still fit in here. No problem." He began crawling, head first, into the hollow.

"Stop!" Rachel hollered. "You can't do it, Rack."

"Yes, stop!" Ruin yelled "You're going to get stuck. We won't be able to get you out."

They were very noisy, trying to coax Rack out of the hollow. The Crows, hearing all the commotion, began to wake up.

"What's going on?" Chloe croaked.

"What's all the noise?" Moe asked.

"Did you feel the tree shake?" asked Joe, wide awake and hopping around on the limb. Gradually, all the Crows awakened to the noise the Racoons were making.

"Turn around, Rack," Rachel yelled. "Try and squeeze out."

"I can't turn around," Rack called out. "I'm really stuck. I didn't think the hole was this small."

"It's not the hole that's small." Ruin cried, "You ate like a pig while we were away and you're just plain fat."

All you could see of Rack was his tail sticking out of the hollow hole. Rachel and Ruin grabbed his tail and began to pull.

"Ow, Ow, Ouch, Ouch!" yelled Rack. "Stop pulling my tail. That hurts!"

"We have to get you out somehow," Rachel yelled back. "Just hang on!" The two continued to pull on Rack's tail despite his screaming to make them stop.

Suddenly, there was a creaking and squeaking of wood. The side of the hole popped open and along with bark, old leaves, a gold necklace and coins, Rack came flying through the hole. He grabbed a limb just in time to keep from falling. Rachel and Ruin held on to each other and clung to the tree. They watched in amazement as the gold coins and necklace fell to the ground amid a flurry of leaves, an old house key, a tin can lid, a knife and spoon and seven shiny new nails.

"Where did all that stuff come from?" Rachel cried. "It doesn't belong to us."

"Would you look at that gold necklace?" Ruin said.

"Oh, my tail!" Rack complained. "What is all this stuff that fell out of our tree?"

A large group of angry Crows gathered around the Racoons. They saw their beautiful collection of shiny objects lying on the ground. They began to caw and scold the Racoons for getting into their hollow.

Great Grandfather Crow awoke when he heard the loud commotion between the Crows and the Racoons. Digger McDirt and the mole colony awoke to the terrible sounds coming from the Crow's tree. Giddy Ghost and the squirrels chattered at the Crows from the ground, unhappy to be awakened so early.

Owl sat on his limb, eyes wide open and laughed to himself at all the foolishness, saying, "Double trouble between the Crows and the Racoons. What can you expect? I knew it would happen."

The sun was just waking up in the eastern sky and the moon was going to bed in the west. With a very loud "Caw...Caw!" louder than any of the Crows, Great Grandfather flew to a limb above the broken hollow hole. He ruffled his shiny black feathers and flapped his wings with authority. Another loud "Caw!" and the Crows grew quiet. Even the Racoons stopped their fussing and looked at Great Grandfather.

"What is going on here? What are you all squabbling about? You're loud enough to wake the dead right here in this cemetery." he said. "Now, I want an explanation. Chloe, answer me."

Poor Chloe was so nervous she could hardly think. She fluttered her wings and waved her head. Everyone waited to hear what she would say.

"We moved into this beautiful tree and we gathered this lovely collection of shiny things. We stashed them in this nice hollow hole. I don't know what these bandit Racoons are doing here, except trying to rob us," Chloe said.

The whole flock joined her, screeching, "Yes, they're robbers! They're robbing us! Robbers! Robbers!"

"Quiet, quiet!" Great Grandfather cawed. "Please, only speak when I ask you a question. What is your name?" he asked, pointing his wing at Rachel.

"My name is Rachel and these are my two children Rack and Ruin. This Oak tree has been our home for a long time. We slept in the hollow hole and I raised my children in this cemetery. We have been on vacation and came home tonight to find our hollow filled with all this junk. How dare you Crows take over our tree! It belongs to us."

Rachel wiped a tear away with her paw and Rack and Ruin patted her head trying to make her feel better.

Peaking from behind a tombstone, Digger McDirt, Shag, Tom Tellitall and the mole colony tried to see what was happening. There on the ground lay the gold chain and locket with all the gold coins that were meant as a gift for the young girl.

"Quick! Let's grab the gold," Shag said "It's right there and we can get it back." He began to rush out after the gold when Digger grabbed him and pulled him back.

"No, no, Shag." Digger whispered. "It's too dangerous to run out there now, with everyone watching. We'll wait for the right time."

At that moment, Great Grandfather flew to the ground and began inspecting the gold necklace and coins. He picked through the assortment of shiny pieces with his beak. Everyone remained quiet as he flew back up on the limb by the hollow hole.

Addressing Chloe, Moe and Joe, he asked, "Where did you find the gold coins and necklace?"

Chloe, being in charge of the collection, felt she should be the one to reply. "We found them down there on that headstone." she said, pointing with her wing. "They were just lying there all shiny and bright in the sun."

"Then, they do not really belong to you." Great Grandfather said. "I want to know where they came from and to whom they belong. Can anyone tell me?"

Chloe said, shaking her head," We honestly don't know who owns them, or where they came from."

Hoppin' Robin, and Giddy Ghost, joined Digger and the mole colony to watch this unusual situation continue to unfold. Hoppin' Robin said to Digger, "I think you should tell Great Grandfather where you found the necklace and coins and the story about giving them to the young girl."

"I have been thinking the same thing." Digger replied. "Once the truth is known, we might get the gifts back. Would you agree to fly up there and tell Great Grandfather our story? I could never shout loud enough for him to hear me from down here on the ground."

"I'll be happy to," Hoppin' said. He turned and flew up on the limb beside Great Grandfather, chirping as he flew, "I know the story, I know the story."

Great Grandfather peered at this bright-eyed, red breasted bird and asked, "Who might you be?"

"I'm Hoppin' Robin, sir. I know the whole story about the gold. How it was found and where it came from."

"Then by all means, please tell me because I need to know. But before you begin, I am very worried about this tree. It should be carefully inspected. This hollow hole is bigger than ever, and I'm afraid it isn't safe as a home for the Crows."

Giddy Ghost chased up the tree and joined Hoppin' and Great Grandfather."Please, sir," he said. "I have lived in this cemetery for many years. I am very familiar with all the trees and I would like to inspect the trunk of this tree, as well as the rest of the tree."

"Would you be kind enough to report back to me after your inspection? We may have to find another home for the Crows if this one isn't safe."

"Yes, sir," Giddy said, as he disappeared into the hollow hole.

Hoppin' began the story about Detective Digger McDirt and the mole colony finding the hidden treasure in the empty grave. He told how they saw the poor, young girl on her visits to the grave of her relatives. He went on to say that the mole colony thought the gold necklace and locket would be nice for her to wear, and that the coins would help her buy some new shoes and clothes. They placed them on the headstone for her to find when the Crows took them.

Great Grandfather listened carefully to the story nodding his head. The Crows listened to the story and so did the Racoons. When Hoppin' finished, Chloe sniffed sadly and Rachel and Rack and Ruin shook their heads in sympathy.

Great Grandfather thanked Hoppin' and quickly flew down to where the mole colony, Digger and Shag were waiting. He said to all the moles, "You have all tried to do a very kind and noble thing by giving a poor, young girl these gifts of gold. I suggest you gather the gold pieces and plan to give them to her again. I am sorry my fellow Crows took them. Had they known the story they would not have made such a terrible mistake."

Digger McDirt thanked Great Grandfather for his help and for making such a good decision. "We will return the gold pieces to our underground home until we can give them to the girl another time." he said.

Coming down out of the tree, Giddy Ghost rushed up to Great Grandfather and announced he had finished his inspection of the tree.

"What did you find?" Great Grandfather asked.

"The tree is very unsafe ."Giddy said. "The trunk is almost completely hollow inside. There are many dead limbs on the west side of the tree. I predict a great windstorm could easily topple this tree over or break it in half. It is very dangerous for the Crows to make this tree their home."

"Then we must find a new home for the Crows." Great Grandfather said. "Can you show us a good tree somewhere nearby, Mr. Giddy?"

"Yes, of course," Giddy said. "I know of a perfect tree not far away."

"What about us?" Rachel asked. "What are we to do now?"

"I know of a little cave on the side of the hill not to far from the caretaker's cottage." Giddy said. "I can show you where it is."

The Crows flew off following Giddy, who was also followed by the Racoons. The mole colony, led by Detective Digger McDirt and Shag, began the difficult task of moving the coins and necklace back to the storage tunnel.

"Look," Shag said, pointing at the sky. "Lllook at that ugly bblack cloud.and that nasty sky. We need to hhhurry. We're going to get a storm."

Digger ordered the moles to move quickly.

Owl, who had listened and watched Great Grandfather solve the problem between the Crows and the Racoons, and the gifts of gold, turned his head and blinked his big eyes. He watched as the sky blackened and the wind begin to shake the leaves on his tree. "I hope there are no critters left in that old Oak tree," he said to himself. "I believe we are in for a big blow."

END OF PART FIVE

Will the brewing storm miss the Old Golden Glen Cemetery, or will it come rumbling through this peaceful glade, and if it does, what will happen to all the critters who live there? Find out when you
Read the LAST Chapter of DIGGER McDIRT..


If you liked the crows Moe, Joe and Chloe, and would like to read more about them, check out
"Woe is Moe".

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