There was a terrible hubbub¹ in the henhouse. The Rooster squalled so loudly that he waked up every hen in the place. And when they heard him crying that a skunk² had knocked him off his roost they were as frightened as he was, and set up a wild cackle. All but Henrietta Hen! She knew there was no skunk there.  
"Don't be a goose—er—don't be a gander!" she hissed³ to the Rooster. "I'm the one that bumped into you."
 
The Rooster quickly came to his senses.
 
"Don't be alarmed, ladies!" he called to the flock. "There's no danger.There's been a slight mistake." He pretended that he hadn't been scared. But he had been. And now he was somewhat uneasy about Henrietta Hen. He feared he was in for a scolding from her.
 
"If you had answered me when I spoke⁴ to you I wouldn't have left my perch⁵ in the dark," she told the Rooster severely⁶. "When I moved to your perch to see what was the matter I blundered into you. And then you thought I was a skunk! You owe me an apology, sir!"
 
The Rooster was glad it was not lighter⁷ in the henhouse, for he felt himself flushing hotly.
 
"You must pardon me," he said. "I had no idea i............