The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse, by
Thornton W. Burgess
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Title: The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse
Author: Thornton W. Burgess
Illustrator: Harrison Cady
Release Date: May 19, 2008 [EBook #25529]
Language: English
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_The Adventures of
DANNY MEADOW MOUSE_
_by Thornton W. Burgess_
[Illustration]
The Adventures of
Danny Meadow Mouse
By THORNTON W. BURGESS
_Illustrated by_ HARRISON CADY
[Illustration]
PUBLISHERS
Grosset & Dunlap
NEW YORK
COPYRIGHT, 1915, 1944,
BY THORNTON W. BURGESS
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BY ARRANGEMENT WITH LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
_The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse_
[Illustration]
Contents
CHAPTER PAGE
I Danny Meadow Mouse Is Worried 11
II Danny Meadow Mouse and His Short Tail 17
III Danny Meadow Mouse Plays Hide-and-Seek 23
IV Old Granny Fox Tries for Danny
Meadow Mouse 31
V What Happened on the Green Meadows 37
VI Danny Meadow Mouse Remembers,
Reddy Fox Forgets 44
VII Old Granny Fox Tries a New Plan 52
VIII Brother North Wind Proves a Friend 59
IX Danny Meadow Mouse Is Caught at Last 68
X A Strange Ride and How It Ended 75
XI Peter Rabbit Gets a Fright 84
XII The Old Briar-Patch Has a New Tenant 91
XIII Peter Rabbit Visits the Peach Orchard 99
XIV Farmer Brown Sets a Trap 105
XV Peter Rabbit Is Caught in a Snare 113
XVI Peter Rabbit's Hard Journey 119
XVII Danny Meadow Mouse Becomes Worried 126
XVIII Danny Meadow Mouse Returns a Kindness 133
XIX Peter Rabbit and Danny Meadow Mouse
Live High 141
XX Timid Danny Meadow Mouse 148
XXI An Exciting Day for Danny Meadow Mouse 158
XXII What Happened Next to Danny Meadow Mouse 165
XXIII Reddy Fox Grows Curious 172
XXIV Reddy Fox Loses His Temper 179
[Illustration]
Illustrations
All Danny Meadow Mouse could think
about was his short tail 10
"Got plenty to eat and drink, haven't
you?" continued Mr. Toad 19
Danny popped his head out of another
little doorway and laughed at Reddy 29
Granny didn't finish, but licked her chops
and smacked her lips 46
It was a beautiful white world, a very
beautiful white world 64
Over in the Green Forest Hooty the Owl
had had poor hunting 72
Danny was being carried through the air
in the cruel claws of Hooty the Owl! 77
"I tell you what, you stay right here!" said
Peter 97
All around the trunk of the tree was
wrapped wire netting 109
Danny Meadow Mouse had set out to
gnaw that piece of stake all to splinters 137
"Where?" exclaimed old Mr. Toad, turning
as pale as a toad can turn 153
"Why, Mr. Toad, where are you going in
such a hurry?" asked Danny 156
With a frightened squeak, Danny dived
into the opening just in time 169
Like a flash, Danny dodged into a tangle
of barbed wire 185
The Adventures of
Danny Meadow Mouse
[Illustration: _All Danny Meadow Mouse could think about was
his short tail_]
I
Danny Meadow Mouse Is Worried
Danny Meadow Mouse sat on his doorstep with his chin in his
hands, and it was very plain to see that Danny had something on
his mind. He had only a nod for Jimmy Skunk, and even Peter
Rabbit could get no more than a grumpy "Good morning." It wasn't
that he had been caught napping the day before by Reddy Fox and
nearly made an end of. No, it wasn't that. Danny had learned his
lesson, and Reddy would never catch him again. It wasn't that he
was all alone with no one to play with. Danny was rather glad
that he was alone. The fact is, Danny Meadow Mouse was worried.
Now worry is one of the worst things in the world, and it didn't
seem as if there was anything that Danny Meadow Mouse need worry
about. But you know it is the easiest thing in the world to find
something to worry over and make yourself uncomfortable about.
And when you make yourself uncomfortable, you are almost sure to
make everyone around you equally uncomfortable. It was so with
Danny Meadow Mouse. Striped Chipmunk had twice called him "Cross
Patch" that morning, and Johnny Chuck, who had fought Reddy Fox
for him the day before, had called him "Grumpy." And what do you
think was the matter with Danny Meadow Mouse? Why, he was
worrying because his tail was short. Yes, Sir, that is all that
ailed Danny Meadow Mouse that bright morning.
You know, some people let their looks make them miserable. They
worry because they are homely or freckled, or short or tall, or
thin or stout, all of which is very foolish. And Danny Meadow
Mouse was just as foolish in worrying because his tail was short.
It is short! It certainly is all of that! Danny never had
realized how short until he chanced to meet his cousin Whitefoot,
who lives in the Green Forest. He was very elegantly dressed, but
the most imposing thing about him was his long, slim, beautiful
tail. Danny had at once become conscious of his own stubby
little tail, and he had hardly had pride enough to hold his head
up as became an honest Meadow Mouse. Ever since, he had been
thinking and thinking, and wondering how his family came to have
such short tails. Then he grew envious and began to wish and wish
and wish that he could have a long tail like his cousin
Whitefoot.
He was so busy wishing that he had a long tail that he quite
forgot to take care of the tail he did have, and he pretty nearly
lost it and his life with it. Old Whitetail the Marsh Hawk spied
Danny sitting there moping on his doorstep, and came sailing
over the tops of the meadow grasses so softly that he all but
caught Danny. If it hadn't been for one of the Merry Little
Breezes, Danny would have been caught. And all because he was
envious. It's a bad, bad habit.
[Illustration]
II
Danny Meadow Mouse and His Short Tail
All Danny Meadow Mouse could think about was his short tail. He
was so ashamed of it that whenever anyone passed, he crawled out
of sight so that they should not see how short his tail was.
Instead of playing in the sunshine as he used to do, he sat and
sulked. Pretty soon his friends began to pass without stopping.
Finally one day old Mr. Toad sat down in front of Danny and
began to ask questions.
"What's the matter?" asked old Mr. Toad.
"Nothing," replied Danny Meadow Mouse.
"I don't suppose there really is anything the matter, but what do
you think is the matter?" said old Mr. Toad.
Danny fidgeted, and old Mr. Toad looked up at jolly, round, red
Mr. Sun and winked. "Sun is just as bright as ever, isn't it?" he
inquired.
"Yes," said Danny.
"Got plenty to eat and drink, haven't you?" continued Mr. Toad.
[Illustration: _"Got plenty to eat and drink, haven't you?"
continued Mr. Toad_]
"Yes," said Danny.
"Seems to me that that is a pretty good-looking suit of clothes
you're wearing," said Mr. Toad, eyeing Danny critically. "Sunny
weather, plenty to eat and drink, and good clothes--must be you
don't know when you're well off, Danny Meadow Mouse."
Danny hung his head. Finally he looked up and caught a kindly
twinkle in old Mr. Toad's eyes. "Mr. Toad, how can I get a long
tail like my cousin Whitefoot of the Green Forest?" he asked.
"So that's what's the matter! Ha! ha! ha! Danny Meadow Mouse, I'm
ashamed of you! I certainly am ashamed of you!" said Mr. Toad.
"What good would a long tail do you? Tell me that."
For a minute Danny didn't know just what to say. "I--I--I'd look
so much better if I had a long tail," he ventured.
Old Mr. Toad just laughed. "You never saw a Meadow Mouse with a
long tail, did you? Of course not. What a sight it would be! Why,
everybody on the Green Meadows would laugh themselves sick at the
sight! You see, you need to be slim and trim and handsome to
carry a long tail well. And then what a nuisance it would be! You
would always have to be thinking of your tail and taking care to
keep it out of harm's way. Look at me. I'm homely. Some folks
call me ugly to look at. But no one tries to catch me as Farmer
Brown's boy does Billy Mink because of his fine coat; and no one
wants to put me in a cage because of a fine voice. I am satisfied
to be just as I am, and if you'll take my advice, Danny Meadow
Mouse, you'll be satisfied to be just as you are."
"Perhaps you are right," said Danny Meadow Mouse after a little.
"I'll try."
III
Danny Meadow Mouse Plays Hide-and-Seek
Life is always a game of hide-and-seek to Danny Meadow Mouse. You
see, he is such a fat little fellow that there are a great many
other furry-coated people, and almost as many who wear feathers,
who would gobble Danny up for breakfast or for dinner if they
could. Some of them pretend to be his friends, but Danny always
keeps his eyes open when they are around and always begins to
play hide-and-seek. Peter Rabbit and Jimmy Skunk and Striped
Chipmunk and Happy Jack Squirrel are all friends whom he can
trust, but he always has a bright twinkling eye open for Reddy
Fox and Billy Mink and Shadow the Weasel and old Whitetail the
Marsh Hawk, and several more, especially Hooty the Owl at night.
Now Danny Meadow Mouse is a stouthearted little fellow, and when
rough Brother North Wind came shouting across the Green Meadows,
tearing to pieces the snow clouds and shaking out the snowflakes
until they covered the Green Meadows deep, deep, deep, Danny just
snuggled down in his warm coat in his snug little house of grass
and waited. Danny liked the snow. Yes, Sir, Danny Meadow Mouse
liked the snow. He just loved to dig in it and make tunnels.
Through those tunnels in every direction he could go where he
pleased and when he pleased without being seen by anybody. It was
great fun!
Every little way he made a little round doorway up beside a stiff
stalk of grass. Out of this he could peep at the white world,
and he could get the fresh, cold air. Sometimes, when he was
quite sure that no one was around, he would scamper across on top
of the snow from one doorway to another, and when he did this, he
made the prettiest little footprints.
Now Reddy Fox knew all about those doorways and who made them.
Reddy was having hard work to get enough to eat this cold
weather, and he was hungry most of the time. One morning, as he
came tiptoeing softly over the meadows, what should he see just
ahead of him but the head of Danny Meadow Mouse pop out of one
of those little round doorways! Reddy's mouth watered, and he
stole forward more softly than ever. When he got within jumping
distance, he drew his stout hind legs under him and made ready to
spring. Presto! Danny Meadow Mouse had disappeared! Reddy Fox
jumped just the same and began to dig as fast as he could make
his paws go. He could smell Danny Meadow Mouse and that made him
almost frantic.
All the time Danny Meadow Mouse was scurrying along one of his
little tunnels, and when finally Reddy Fox stopped digging
because he was quite out of breath, Danny popped his head out of
another little doorway and laughed at Reddy. Of course Reddy saw
him, and of course Reddy tried to catch him there, and dug
frantically just as before. And of course Danny Meadow Mouse
wasn't there.
[Illustration: _Danny popped his head out of another little
doorway and laughed at Reddy_]
After a while Reddy Fox grew tired of this kind of a game and
tried another plan. The next time he saw Danny Meadow Mouse stick
his head out, Reddy pretended not to see him. He stretched
himself out on the ground and made believe that he was very
tired and sleepy. He closed his eyes. Then he opened them just
the tiniest bit, so that he could see Danny Meadow Mouse and yet
seem to be asleep. Danny watched him for a long time. Then he
chuckled to himself and dropped out of sight.
No sooner was he gone than Reddy Fox stole over close to the
little doorway and waited. "He'll surely stick his head out again
to see if I'm asleep, and then I'll have him," said Reddy to
himself. So he waited and waited and waited. By and by he turned
his head. There was Danny Meadow Mouse at another little doorway,
laughing at him!
IV
Old Granny Fox Tries for Danny Meadow Mouse
Danny Meadow Mouse had not enjoyed anything so much for a long
time as he did that game of hide-and-seek. He tickled and
chuckled all the afternoon as he thought about it. Of course,
Reddy had been "it." He had been "it" all the time, for never
once had he caught Danny Meadow Mouse. If he had--well, there
wouldn't have been any more stories about Danny Meadow Mouse,
because there wouldn't have been any Danny Meadow Mouse any more.
But Danny never let himself think about this. He had enjoyed the
game all the more because it had been such a dangerous game. It
had been such fun to dive into one of his little round doorways
in the snow, run along one of his own little tunnels, and then
peep out at another doorway and watch Reddy Fox digging as fast
as ever he could at the doorway Danny had just left. Finally
Reddy had given up in disgust and gone off muttering angrily to
try to find something else for dinner. Danny had sat up on the
snow and watched him go. In his funny little squeaky voice Danny
shouted:
"_Though Reddy Fox is smart and sly,
Hi-hum-diddle-de-o!
I'm just as smart and twice as spry.
Hi-hum-diddle-de-o!_"
That night Reddy Fox told old Granny Fox all about how he had
tried to catch Danny Meadow Mouse. Granny listened with her head
cocked on one side. When Reddy told how fat Danny Meadow Mouse
was, her mouth watered. You see, now that snow covered the Green
Meadows and the Green Forest, Granny and Reddy Fox had hard work
to get enough to eat, and they were hungry most of the time.
"I'll go with you down on the meadows tomorrow morning, and then
we'll see if Danny Meadow Mouse is as smart as he thinks he is,"
said Granny Fox.
So, bright and early the next morning, old Granny Fox and Reddy
Fox went down on the meadows where Danny Meadow Mouse lives.
Danny had felt in his bones that Reddy would come back, so he was
watching, and he saw them as soon as they came out of the Green
Forest. When he saw old Granny Fox, Danny's heart beat a little
faster than before, for he knew that Granny Fox is very smart and
very wise, and has learned most of the tricks of all the other
little meadow and forest people.
"This is going to be a more exciting game than the other," said
Danny to himself, and scurried down out of sight to see that all
his little tunnels were clear so that he could run fast through
them if he had to. Then he peeped out of one of his little
doorways hidden in a clump of tall grass.
Old Granny Fox set Reddy to hunting for Danny's little round
doorways, and as fast as he found them, Granny came up and
sniffed at each. She knew that she could tell by the smell which
one he had been at last. Finally she came straight toward the
tall bunch of grass. Danny ducked down and scurried along one of
his little tunnels. He heard Granny Fox sniff at the doorway he
had just left. Suddenly something plunged down through the snow
right at his very heels. Danny didn't have to look to know that
it was Granny Fox herself, and he squeaked with fright.
V
What Happened on the Green Meadows
Thick and fast, things were happening to Danny Meadow Mouse down
on the snow-covered Green Meadows. Rather, they were almost
happening. He hadn't minded when Reddy Fox all alone tried to
catch him. Indeed, he had made a regular game of hide-and-seek of
it and had enjoyed it immensely. But now it was different.
Granny Fox wasn't so easily fooled as Reddy Fox. Just Granny
alone would have made the game dangerous for Danny Meadow Mouse.
But Reddy was with her, and so Danny had two to look out for, and
he got so many frights that it seemed to him as if his heart had
moved right up into his mouth and was going to stay there. Yes,
Sir, that is just how it seemed.
Down in his little tunnels underneath the snow Danny Meadow Mouse
felt perfectly safe from Reddy Fox, who would stop and dig
frantically at the little round doorway where he had last seen
Danny. But old Granny Fox knew all about those little tunnels,
and she didn't waste any time digging at the doorways. Instead
she cocked her sharp little ears and listened with all her might.
Now Granny Fox has very keen ears, oh, very keen ears, and she
heard just what she hoped she would hear. She heard Danny Meadow
Mouse running along one of his little tunnels under the snow.
Plunge! Old Granny Fox dived right into the snow and right
through into the tunnel of Danny Meadow Mouse. Her two black
paws actually touched Danny's tail. He was glad then that it was
no longer.
"Ha!" cried Granny Fox, "I almost got him that time!"
Then she ran ahead a little way over the snow, listening as
before. Plunge! Into the snow she went again. It was lucky for
him that Danny had just turned into another tunnel, for otherwise
she would surely have caught him.
Granny Fox blew the snow out of her nose. "Next time I'll get
him!" said she.
Now Reddy Fox is quick to learn, especially when it is a way to
get something to eat. He watched Granny Fox, and when he
understood what she was doing, he made up his mind to have a try
himself, for he was afraid that if she caught Danny Meadow Mouse,
she would think that he was not big enough to divide. Perhaps
that was because Reddy is very selfish himself. So the next time
Granny plunged into the snow and missed Danny Meadow Mouse just
as before, Reddy rushed in ahead of her, and the minute he heard
Danny running down below, he plunged in just as he had seen
Granny do. But he didn't take the pains to make sure of just
where Danny was, and so of course he didn't come anywhere near
him. But he frightened Danny still more and made old Granny Fox
lose her temper.
Poor Danny Meadow Mouse! He had never been so frightened in all
his life. He didn't know which way to turn or where to run. And
so he sat still, which, although he didn't know it, was the very
best thing he could do. When he sat still he made no noise, and
so of course Granny and Reddy Fox could not tell where he was.
Old Granny Fox sat and listened and listened and listened, and
wondered where Danny Meadow Mouse was. And down under the snow
Danny Meadow Mouse sat and listened and listened and listened,
and wondered where Granny and Reddy Fox were.
"Pooh!" said Granny Fox after a while, "that Meadow Mouse thinks
he can fool me by sitting still. I'll give him a scare."
Then she began to plunge into the snow this way and that way, and
sure enough, pretty soon she landed so close to Danny Meadow
Mouse that one of her claws scratched him.
VI
Danny Meadow Mouse Remembers, Reddy Fox Forgets
"There he goes!" cried old Granny Fox. "Don't let him sit still
again!"
"I hear him!" shouted Reddy Fox, and plunged down into the snow
just as Granny Fox had done a minute before. But he didn't catch
anything, and when he had blown the snow out of his nose and
wiped it out of his eyes, he saw Granny Fox dive into the snow
with no better luck.
"Never mind," said Granny Fox, "as long as we keep him running,
we can hear him, and some one of these times we'll catch him.
Pretty soon he'll get too tired to be so spry, and when he is--"
Granny didn't finish, but licked her chops and smacked her lips.
Reddy Fox grinned, then licked his chops and smacked his lips.
Then once more they took turns diving into the snow.
[Illustration: _Granny didn't finish, but licked her chops and
smacked her lips_]
And down underneath in the little tunnels he had made, Danny
Meadow Mouse was running for his life. He was getting tired,
just as old Granny Fox had said he would. He was almost out of
breath. He was sore and one leg smarted, for in one of her jumps
old Granny Fox had so nearly caught him that her claws had torn
his pants and scratched him.
"Oh dear! Oh dear! If only I had time to think!" panted Danny
Meadow Mouse, and then he squealed in still greater fright as
Reddy Fox crashed down into his tunnel right at his very heels.
"I've got to get somewhere! I've got to get somewhere where they
can't get at me!" he sobbed. And right that very instant he
remembered the old fence post!
The old fence post lay on the ground and was hollow. Fastened to
it were long wires with sharp, cruel barbs. Danny had made a
tunnel over to that old fence post the very first day after the
snow came, for in that hollow in the old post he had a secret
store of seeds. Why hadn't he thought of it before? It must have
been because he was too frightened to think. But he remembered
now, and he dodged into the tunnel that led to the old fence
post, running faster than ever, for though his heart was in his
mouth from fear, in his heart was hope, and hope is a wonderful
thing.
Now old Granny Fox knew all about that old fence post and she
remembered all about those barbed wires fastened to it. Although
they were covered with snow she knew just about where they lay,
and just before she reached them she stopped plunging down into
the snow. Reddy Fox knew about those wires, too, but he was so
excited that he forgot all about them.
"Stop!" cried old Granny Fox sharply.
But Reddy Fox didn't hear, or if he heard he didn't heed. His
sharp ears could hear Danny Meadow Mouse running almost
underneath him. Granny Fox could stop if she wanted to, but he
was going to have Danny Meadow Mouse for his breakfast! Down into
the snow he plunged as hard as ever he could.
"Oh! Oh! Wow! Wow! Oh dear! Oh dear!"
That wasn't the voice of Danny Meadow Mouse. Oh, my, no! It was
the voice of Reddy Fox. Yes, Sir, it was the voice of Reddy Fox.
He had landed with one of his black paws right on one of those
sharp wire barbs, and it did hurt dreadfully.
"I never did know a young Fox who could get into as much trouble
as you can!" snapped old Granny Fox, as Reddy hobbled along on
three legs behind her, across the snow-covered Green Meadows. "It
serves you right for forgetting!"
"Yes'm," said Reddy meekly.
And safe in the hollow of the old fence post, Danny Meadow Mouse
was dressing the scratch on his leg made by the claws of old
Granny Fox.
VII
Old Granny Fox Tries a New Plan
Old Granny Fox kept thinking about Danny Meadow Mouse. She knew
that he was fat, and it made her mouth water every time she
thought of him. She made up her mind that she must and would have
him. She knew that Danny had been very, very much frightened when
she and Reddy Fox had tried so hard to catch him by plunging
down through the snow into his little tunnels after him, and she
felt pretty sure that he wouldn't go far away from the old fence
post, in the hollow of which he was snug and safe.
Old Granny Fox is very smart. "Danny Meadow Mouse won't put his
nose out of that old fence post for a day or two. Then he'll get
tired of staying inside all the time, and he'll peep out of one
of his little round doorways to see if the way is clear. If he
doesn't see any danger, he'll come out and run around on top of
the snow to get some of the seeds in the tops of the tall grasses
that stick out through the snow. If nothing frightens him, he'll
keep going a little farther and a little farther from that old
fence post. I must see to it that Danny Meadow Mouse isn't
frightened for a few days." So said old Granny Fox to herself, as
she lay under a hemlock tree, studying how she could best get the
next meal.
Then she called Reddy Fox to her and forbade him to go down on
the meadows until she should tell him he might. Reddy grumbled
and mumbled and didn't see why he shouldn't go where he pleased,
but he didn't dare disobey. You see, he had a sore foot. He had
hurt it on a wire barb when he was plunging through the snow
after Danny Meadow Mouse, and now he had to run on three legs.
That meant that he must depend upon Granny Fox to help him get
enough to eat. So Reddy didn't dare to disobey.
It all came out just as Granny Fox had thought it would. Danny
Meadow Mouse did get tired of staying in the old fence post. He
did peep out first, and then he did run a little way on the
snow, and then a little farther and a little farther. But all the
time he took great care not to get more than a jump or two from
one of his little round doorways leading down to his tunnels
under the snow.
Hidden on the edge of the Green Forest, Granny Fox watched him.
She looked up at the sky, and she knew that it was going to snow
again. "That's good," said she. "Tomorrow morning I'll have fat
Meadow Mouse for breakfast," and she smiled a hungry smile.
The next morning, before jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was out of
bed, old Granny Fox trotted down onto the meadows and straight
over to where, down under the snow, lay the old fence post. It
had snowed again, and all the little doorways of Danny Meadow
Mouse were covered up with soft, fleecy snow. Behind Granny Fox
limped Reddy Fox, grumbling to himself.
When they reached the place where the old fence post lay buried
under the snow, old Granny Fox stretched out as flat as she
could. Then she told Reddy to cover her up with the new soft
snow. Reddy did as he was told, but all the time he grumbled.
"Now you go off to the Green Forest and keep out of sight," said
Granny Fox. "By and by I'll bring you some Meadow Mouse for your
breakfast," and Granny Fox chuckled to think how smart she was
and how she was going to catch Danny Meadow Mouse.
[Illustration]
VIII
Brother North Wind Proves a Friend
Danny Meadow Mouse had seen nothing of old Granny Fox or Reddy
Fox for several days. Every morning the first thing he did, even
before he had breakfast, was to climb up to one of his little
round doorways and peep out over the beautiful white meadows, to
see if there was any danger near. But every time he did this,
Danny used a different doorway. "For," said Danny to himself, "if
anyone should happen, just happen, to see me this morning, they
might be waiting just outside my doorway to catch me tomorrow
morning." You see, there is a great deal of wisdom in the little
head that Danny Meadow Mouse carries on his shoulders.
But the first day and the second day and the third day he saw
nothing of old Granny Fox or of Reddy Fox, and he began to enjoy
running through his tunnels under the snow and scurrying across
from one doorway to another on top of the snow, just as he had
before the Foxes had tried so hard to catch him. But he hadn't
forgotten, as Granny Fox had hoped he would. No, indeed, Danny
Meadow Mouse hadn't forgotten. He was too wise for that.
One morning, when he started to climb up to one of his little
doorways, he found that it was closed. Yes, Sir, it was closed.
In fact, there wasn't any doorway. More snow had fallen from the
clouds in the night and had covered up every one of the little
round doorways of Danny Meadow Mouse.
"Ha!" said Danny, "I shall have a busy day, a very busy day,
opening all my doorways. I'll eat my breakfast, and then I'll go
to work."
So Danny Meadow Mouse ate a good breakfast of seeds which he had
stored in the hollow in the old fence post buried under the snow,
and then he began work on the nearest doorway. It really wasn't
work at all, for you see, the snow was soft and light, and Danny
dearly loved to dig in it. In a few minutes he had made a wee
hole through which he could peep up at jolly, round, red Mr. Sun.
In a few minutes more he had made it big enough to put his head
out. He looked this way and he looked that way. Far, far off on
the top of a tree he could see old Roughleg the Hawk, but he was
so far away that Danny didn't fear him at all.
"I don't see anything or anybody to be afraid of," said Danny and
poked his head out a little farther.
[Illustration: _It was a beautiful white world, a very beautiful
white world_]
Then he sat and studied everything around him a long, long time.
It was a beautiful white world, a very beautiful white world.
Everything was so white and pure and beautiful that it didn't
seem possible that harm or danger for anyone could even be
thought of. But Danny Meadow Mouse learned long ago that things
are not always what they seem, and so he sat with just his little
head sticking out of his doorway and studied and studied. Just a
little way off was a little heap of snow.
"I don't remember that," said Danny. "And I don't remember
anything that would make that. There isn't any little bush or old
log or anything underneath it. Perhaps rough Brother North Wind
heaped it up, just for fun."
But all the time Danny Meadow Mouse kept studying and studying
that little heap of snow. Pretty soon he saw rough Brother North
Wind coming his way and tossing the snow about as he came. He
caught a handful from the top of the little heap of snow that
Danny was studying, and when he had passed, Danny's sharp eyes
saw something red there. It was just the color of the cloak old
Granny Fox wears.
"_Granny Fox, you can't fool me!
I see you plain as plain can be!_"
shouted Danny Meadow Mouse and dropped down out of sight, while
old Granny Fox shook the snow from her red cloak and, with a
snarl of disappointment and anger, slowly started for the Green
Forest, where Reddy Fox was waiting for her.
[Illustration]
IX
Danny Meadow Mouse Is Caught at Last
"_Tippy-toppy-tippy-toe,
Play and frolic in the snow!
Now you see me! Now you don't!
Think you'll catch me, but you won't!
Tippy-toppy-tippy-toe,
Oh, such fun to play in snow!_"
Danny Meadow Mouse sang this, or at least he tried to sing it, as
he skipped about on the snow that covered the Green Meadows. But
Danny Meadow Mouse has such a little voice, such a funny little
squeaky voice, that had you been there you probably would never
have guessed that he was singing. He thought he was, though, and
was enjoying it just as much as if he had the most beautiful
voice in the world. You know, singing is nothing in the world but
happiness in the heart making itself heard.
Oh, yes, Danny Meadow Mouse was happy! Why shouldn't he have
been? Hadn't he proved himself smarter than old Granny Fox? That
is something to make anyone happy. Some folks may fool Granny Fox
once; some may fool her twice; but there are very few who can
keep right on fooling her until she gives up in disgust. That is
just what Danny Meadow Mouse had done, and he felt very smart and
of course he felt very happy.
So Danny sang his little song and skipped about in the moonlight,
and dodged in and out of his little round doorways, and all the
time kept his sharp little eyes open for any sign of Granny Fox
or Reddy Fox. But with all his smartness, Danny forgot. Yes, Sir,
Danny forgot one thing. He forgot to watch up in the sky. He knew
that of course old Roughleg the Hawk was asleep, so he had
nothing to fear from him. But he never once thought of Hooty the
Owl.
Dear me, dear me! Forgetting is a dreadful habit. If nobody ever
forgot, there wouldn't be nearly so much trouble in the world.
No, indeed, there wouldn't be nearly so much trouble. And Danny
Meadow Mouse forgot. He skipped and sang and was happy as could
be, and never once thought to watch up in the sky.
[Illustration: _Over in the Green Forest Hooty the Owl had had
poor hunting_]
Over in the Green Forest Hooty the Owl had had poor hunting, and
he was feeling cross. You see, Hooty was hungry, and hunger is
apt to make one feel cross. The longer he hunted, the hungrier
and crosser he grew. Suddenly he thought of Danny Meadow Mouse.
"I suppose he is asleep somewhere safe and snug under the snow,"
grumbled Hooty, "but he might, he just might, be out for a frolic
in the moonlight. I believe I'll go down on the meadows and see."
Now Hooty the Owl can fly without making the teeniest, weeniest
sound. It seems as if he just drifts along through the air like a
great shadow. Now he spread his great wings and floated out over
the meadows. You know Hooty can see as well at night as most
folks can by day, and it was not long before he saw Danny Meadow
Mouse skipping about on the snow and dodging in and out of his
little round doorways. Hooty's great eyes grew brighter and
fiercer. Without a sound he floated through the moonlight until
he was just over Danny Meadow Mouse.
Too late Danny looked up. His little song ended in a tiny squeak
of fear, and he started for his nearest little round doorway.
Hooty the Owl reached down with his long cruel claws and--Danny
Meadow Mouse was caught at last!
X
A Strange Ride and How It Ended
Danny Meadow Mouse often had sat watching Skimmer the Swallow
sailing around up in the blue, blue sky. He had watched Ol'
Mistah Buzzard go up, up, up, until he was nothing but a tiny
speck, and Danny had wondered how it would seem to be way up
above the Green Meadows and the Green Forest and look down. It
had seemed to him that it must be very wonderful and beautiful.
Sometimes he had wished that he had wings and could go up in the
air and look down. And now here he was, he, Danny Meadow Mouse,
actually doing that very thing!
But Danny could see nothing wonderful or beautiful now. No,
indeed! Everything was terrible, for you see, Danny Meadow Mouse
wasn't flying himself. He was being carried. Yes, Sir, Danny
Meadow Mouse was being carried through the air in the cruel claws
of Hooty the Owl! And all because Danny had forgotten--forgotten
to watch up in the sky for danger.
[Illustration: _Danny was being carried through the air in the
cruel claws of Hooty the Owl!_]
Poor, poor Danny Meadow Mouse! Hooty's great cruel claws hurt him
dreadfully! But it wasn't the pain that was the worst. No,
indeed! It wasn't the pain! It was the thought of what would
happen when Hooty reached his home in the Green Forest, for he
knew that there Hooty would gobble him up, bones and all. As he
flew, Hooty kept chuckling, and Danny Meadow Mouse knew just what
those chuckles meant. They meant that Hooty was thinking of the
good meal he was going to have.
Hanging there in Hooty's great cruel claws, Danny looked down on
the snow-covered Green Meadows he loved so well. They seemed a
frightfully long way below him, though really they were not far
at all, for Hooty was flying very low. But Danny Meadow Mouse had
never in all his life been so high up before, and so it seemed to
him that he was way, way up in the sky, and he shut his eyes so
as not to see. But he couldn't keep them shut. No, Sir, he
couldn't keep them shut! He just had to keep opening them. There
was the dear old Green Forest drawing nearer and nearer. It
always had looked very beautiful to Danny Meadow Mouse, but now
it looked terrible, very terrible indeed, because over in it,
hidden away there in some dark place, was the home of Hooty the
Owl.
Just ahead of him was the Old Briar-patch where Peter Rabbit
lives so safely. Every old bramble in it was covered with snow
and it was very, very beautiful. Really everything was just as
beautiful as ever--the moonlight, the Green Forest, the
snow-covered Green Meadows, the Old Briar-patch. The only change
was in Danny Meadow Mouse himself, and it was all because he had
forgotten.
Suddenly Danny began to wriggle and struggle. "Keep still!"
snapped Hooty the Owl.
But Danny only struggled harder than ever. It seemed to him that
Hooty wasn't holding him as tightly as at first. He felt one of
Hooty's claws slip. It tore his coat and hurt dreadfully, but it
slipped! The fact is, Hooty had only grabbed Danny Meadow Mouse
by the loose part of his coat, and up in the air he couldn't get
hold of Danny any better. Danny kicked, squirmed, and twisted,
and twisted, squirmed, and kicked. He felt his coat tear and of
course the skin with it, but he kept right on, for now he was
hanging almost free. Hooty had started down now, so as to get a
better hold. Danny gave one more kick and then--he felt himself
falling!
Danny Meadow Mouse shut his eyes and held his breath. Down, down,
down he fell. It seemed to him that he never would strike the
snow-covered meadows! Really he fell only a very little distance.
But it seemed a terrible distance to Danny. He hit something that
scratched him, and then--plump!--he landed in the soft snow right
in the very middle of the Old Briar-patch, and the last thing he
remembered was hearing the scream of disappointment and rage of
Hooty the Owl.
[Illustration]
XI
Peter Rabbit Gets a Fright
Peter Rabbit sat in his favorite place in the middle of the dear
Old Briar-patch, trying to decide which way he would go on his
travels that night. The night before he had had a narrow escape
from old Granny Fox over in the Green Forest. There was nothing
to eat around the Smiling Pool and no one to talk to there any
more, and you know that Peter must either eat or ask questions in
order to be perfectly happy. No, the Smiling Pool was too dull a
place to interest Peter on such a beautiful moonlight night, and
Peter had no mind to try his legs against those of old Granny Fox
again in the Green Forest.
Early that morning, just after Peter had settled down for his
morning nap, Tommy Tit the Chickadee had dropped into the dear
Old Briar-patch just to be neighborly. Peter was just dozing off
when he heard the cheeriest little voice in the world. It was
saying:
"_Dee-dee-chickadee!
I see you! Can you see me?_"
Peter began to smile even before he could get his eyes open and
look up. There, right over his head, was Tommy Tit hanging head
down from a nodding old bramble. In a twinkling he was down on
the snow right in front of Peter, then up in the brambles again,
right side up, upside down, here, there, everywhere, never still
a minute, and all the time chattering away in the cheeriest
little voice in the world:
"_Dee-dee-chickadee!
I'm as happy as can be!
Find it much the better way
To be happy all the day.
Dee-dee-chickadee!
Everybody's good to me!_"
"Hello, Tommy!" said Peter Rabbit. "Where'd you come from?"
"From Farmer Brown's new orchard up on the hill. It's a fine
orchard, Peter Rabbit, a fine orchard. I go there every morning
for my breakfast. If the winter lasts long enough, I'll have all
the trees cleaned up for Farmer Brown."
Peter looked puzzled. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"Just what I say," replied Tommy Tit, almost turning a somersault
in the air. "There's a million eggs of insects on those young
peach trees, but I'm clearing them all off as fast as I can.
They're mighty fine eating, Peter Rabbit, mighty fine eating!"
And with that Tommy Tit had said good-by and flitted away.
Peter was thinking of that young orchard now, as he sat in the
moonlight trying to make up his mind where to go. The thought of
those young peach trees made his mouth water. It was a long way
up to the orchard on the hill, a very long way, and Peter was
wondering if it really was safe to go. He had just about made up
his mind to try it, for Peter is very, very fond of the bark of
young peach trees, when thump! something dropped out of the sky
at his very feet.
It startled Peter so that he nearly tumbled over backward. And
right at the same instant came the fierce, angry scream of Hooty
the Owl. That almost made Peter's heart stop beating, although he
knew that Hooty couldn't get him down there in the Old Briar-patch.
When Peter got his wits together and his heart didn't go so
jumpy, he looked to see what had dropped so close to him out of
the sky. His big eyes grew bigger than ever, and he rubbed them
to make quite sure that he really saw what he thought he saw.
Yes, there was no doubt about it--there at his feet lay Danny
Meadow Mouse!
[Illustration]
XII
The Old Briar-Patch Has a New Tenant
Danny Meadow Mouse slowly opened his eyes and then closed them
again quickly, as if afraid to look around. He could hear someone
talking. It was a pleasant voice, not at all like the terrible
voice of Hooty the Owl, which was the very last thing that Danny
Meadow Mouse could remember. Danny lay still a minute and
listened.
"Why, Danny Meadow Mouse, where in the world did you drop from?"
asked the voice. It sounded like--why, very much like Peter
Rabbit speaking. Danny opened his eyes again. It was Peter
Rabbit.
"Where--where am I?" asked Danny Meadow Mouse in a very weak and
small voice.
"In the middle of the dear Old Briar-patch with me," replied
Peter Rabbit. "But how did you get here? You seemed to drop right
out of the sky."
Danny Meadow Mouse shuddered. Suddenly he remembered everything:
how Hooty the Owl had caught him in great cruel claws and had
carried him through the moonlight across the snow-covered Green
Meadows; how he had felt Hooty's claws slip and then had
struggled and kicked and twisted and turned until his coat had
torn and he had dropped down, down, down, until he had landed in
the soft snow and knocked all the breath out of his little body.
The very last thing he could remember was Hooty's fierce scream
of rage and disappointment. Danny shuddered again.
Then a new thought came to him. He must get out of sight! Hooty
might catch him again! Danny tried to scramble to his feet.
"Ouch! Oh!" groaned Danny and lay still again.
"There, there. Keep still, Danny Meadow Mouse. There's nothing to
be afraid of here," said Peter Rabbit gently. His big eyes filled
with tears as he looked at Danny Meadow Mouse, for Danny was all
torn and hurt by the cruel claws of Hooty the Owl, and you know
Peter has a very tender heart.
So Danny lay still, and while Peter Rabbit tried to make him
comfortable and dress his hurts, he told Peter all about how he
had forgotten to watch up in the sky and so had been caught by
Hooty the Owl, and all about his terrible ride in Hooty's cruel
claws.
"Oh dear, whatever shall I do now?" he ended. "However shall I
get back home to my warm house of grass, my safe little tunnels
under the snow, and my little store of seeds in the snug hollow
in the old fence post?"
Peter Rabbit looked thoughtful. "You can't do it," said he. "You
simply can't do it. It is such a long way for a little fellow
like you that it wouldn't be safe to try. If you went at night,
Hooty the Owl might catch you again. If you tried in daylight,
old Roughleg the Hawk would be almost sure to see you. And night
or day, old Granny Fox or Reddy Fox might come snooping around,
and if they did, they would be sure to catch you. I tell you
what, you stay right here! The dear Old Briar-patch is the safest
place in the world. Why, just think, here you can come out in
broad daylight and laugh at Granny and Reddy Fox and at old
Roughleg the Hawk, because the good old brambles will keep them
out if they try to get you. You can make just as good tunnels
under the snow here as you had there, and there are lots and lots
of seeds on the ground to eat. You know I don't care for them
myself. I'm lonesome sometimes, living here all alone. You stay
here, and we'll have the Old Briar-patch to ourselves."
[Illustration: _"I tell you what, you stay right here!" said
Peter_]
Danny Meadow Mouse looked at Peter gratefully. "I will, and thank
you ever so much, Peter Rabbit," he said.
And this is how the dear Old Briar-patch happened to have another
tenant.
XIII
Peter Rabbit Visits the Peach Orchard
"Don't go, Peter Rabbit! Don't go!" begged Danny Meadow Mouse.
Peter hopped to the edge of the Old Briar-patch and looked over
the moonlit, snow-covered meadows to the hill back of Farmer
Brown's house. On that hill was the young peach orchard of which
Tommy Tit the Chickadee had told him, and ever since Peter's
mouth had watered and watered every time he thought of those
young peach trees and the tender bark on them.
"I think I will, Danny, just this once," said Peter. "It's a long
way, and I've never been there before; but I guess it's just as
safe as the Meadows or the Green Forest."
"_Oh I'm as bold as bold can be!
Sing hoppy-hippy-hippy-hop-o!
I'll hie me forth the world to see!
Sing hoppy-hippy-hippy-hop-o!
My ears are long,
My legs are strong,
So now good day;
I'll hie away!
Sing hoppy-hippy-hippy-hop-o!_"
And with that, Peter Rabbit left the dear, safe Old Briar-patch,
and away he went lipperty-lipperty-lip, across the Green Meadows
toward the hill and the young orchard back of Farmer Brown's
house.
Danny Meadow Mouse watched him go and shook his head in
disapproval. "Foolish, foolish, foolish!" he said over and over
to himself. "Why can't Peter be content with the good things that
he has?"
Peter Rabbit hurried along through the moonlight, stopping every
few minutes to sit up to look and listen. He heard the fierce
hunting call of Hooty the Owl way over in the Green Forest, so he
felt sure that at present there was nothing to fear from him. He
knew that since their return to the Green Meadows and the Green
Forest, Granny and Reddy Fox had kept away from Farmer Brown's,
so he did not worry about them.
All in good time Peter came to the young orchard. It was just as
Tommy Tit the Chickadee had told him. Peter hopped up to the
nearest peach tree and nibbled the bark. My, how good it tasted!
He went all around the tree, stripping off the bark. He stood up
on his long hind legs and reached as high as he could. Then he
dug the snow away and ate down as far as he could. When he could
get no more tender young bark, he went on to the next tree.
Now, though Peter didn't know it, he was in the very worst kind
of mischief. You see, when he took off all the bark all the way
around the young peach tree, he killed the tree, for you know it
is on the inside of the bark that the sap which gives life to a
tree and makes it grow goes up from the roots to all the
branches. So when Peter ate the bark all the way around the trunk
of the young tree, he had made it impossible for the sap to come
up in the spring. Oh, it was the worst kind of mischief that
Peter Rabbit was in.
But Peter didn't know it, and he kept right on filling that big
stomach of his and enjoying it so much that he forgot to watch
out for danger. Suddenly, just as he had begun on another tree, a
great roar right behind him made him jump almost out of his skin.
He knew that voice, and without waiting to even look behind him,
he started for the stone wall on the other side of the orchard.
Right at his heels, his great mouth wide open, was Bowser the
Hound.
XIV
Farmer Brown Sets a Trap
Peter Rabbit was in trouble. He had got into mischief and now,
like everyone who gets into mischief, he wished that he hadn't.
The worst of it was that he was a long way from his home in the
dear Old Briar-patch, and he didn't know how he ever could get
back there again. Where was he? Why, in the stone wall on one
side of Farmer Brown's young peach orchard. How Peter blessed the
old stone wall in which he had found a safe hiding place! Bowser
had hung around nearly all night, so that Peter had not dared to
try to go home. Now it was daylight, and Peter knew it would not
be safe to put his nose outside.
Peter was worried, so worried that he couldn't go to sleep as he
usually does in the daytime. So he sat hidden in the old wall and
waited and watched. By and by he saw Farmer Brown and Farmer
Brown's boy come out into the orchard. Right away they saw the
mischief which Peter had done, and he could tell by the sound of
their voices that they were very, very angry. They went away, but
before long they were back again, and all day long Peter watched
them work putting something around each of the young peach trees.
Peter grew so curious that he forgot all about his troubles and
how far away from home he was. He could hardly wait for night to
come so that he might see what they had been doing.
Just as jolly, round, red Mr. Sun started to go to bed behind the
Purple Hills, Farmer Brown and his boy started back to the
house. Farmer Brown was smiling now.
"I guess that will fix him!" he said.
"Now what does he mean by that?" thought Peter. "Whom will it
fix? Can it be me? I don't need any fixing."
[Illustration: _All around the trunk of the tree was wrapped wire
netting_]
He waited just as long as he could. When all was still, and the
moonlight had begun to make shadows of the trees on the snow,
Peter very cautiously crept out of his hiding place. Bowser the
Hound was nowhere in sight, and everything was as quiet and
peaceful as it had been when he first came into the orchard the
night before. Peter had fully made up his mind to go straight
home as fast as his long legs would take him, but his dreadful
curiosity insisted that first he must find out what Farmer Brown
and his boy had been doing to the young peach trees.
So Peter hurried over to the nearest tree. All around the trunk
of the tree, from the ground clear up higher than Peter could
reach, was wrapped wire netting. Peter couldn't get so much as a
nibble of the delicious bark. He hadn't intended to take any, for
he had meant to go right straight home, but now that he couldn't
get any, he wanted some more than ever--just a bite. Peter looked
around. Everything was quiet. He would try the next tree, and
then he would go home.
But the next tree was wrapped with wire. Peter hesitated, looked
around, turned to go home, thought of how good that bark had
tasted the night before, hesitated again, and then hurried over
to the third tree. It was protected just like the others. Then
Peter forgot all about going home. He wanted some of that
delicious bark, and he ran from one tree to another as fast as he
could go.
At last, way down at the end of the orchard, Peter found a tree
that had no wire around it. "They must have forgotten this one!"
he thought, and his eyes sparkled. All around on the snow were a
lot of shiny little wires, but Peter didn't notice them. All he
saw was that delicious bark on the young peach tree. He hopped
right into the middle of the wires, and then, just as he reached
up to take the first bite of bark, he felt something tugging at
one of his hind legs.
XV
Peter Rabbit Is Caught in a Snare
When Peter Rabbit, reaching up to nibble the bark of one of
Farmer Brown's young trees, felt something tugging at one of his
hind legs, he was so startled that he jumped to get away. Instead
of doing this, he fell flat on his face. The thing on his hind
leg had tightened and held him fast. A great fear came to Peter
Rabbit, and lying there in the snow, he kicked and struggled
with all his might. But the more he kicked, the tighter grew that
hateful thing on his leg! Finally he grew too tired to kick any
more and lay still. The dreadful thing that held him hurt his
leg, but it didn't pull when he lay still.
When he had grown a little calmer, Peter sat up to examine the
thing which held him so fast. It was something like one of the
blackberry vines he had sometimes tripped over, only it was
bright and shiny, and had no branches or tiny prickers, and one
end was fastened to a stake. Peter tried to bite off the shiny
thing, but even his great, sharp front teeth couldn't cut it.
Then Peter knew what it was. It was wire! It was a snare which
Farmer Brown had set to catch him, and which he had walked right
into because he had been so greedy for the bark of the young
peach tree that he had not used his eyes to look out for danger.
Oh, how Peter Rabbit did wish that he had not been so curious to
know what Farmer Brown had been doing that day, and that he had
gone straight home as he had meant to do, instead of trying to
get one more meal of young peach bark! Big tears rolled down
Peter's cheeks. What should he do? What could he do? For a long
time Peter sat in the moonlight, trying to think of something to
do. At last he thought of the stake to which that hateful wire
was fastened. The stake was of wood, and Peter's teeth would cut
wood. Peter's heart gave a great leap of hope, and he began at
once to dig away the snow from around the stake, and then settled
himself to gnaw the stake in two.
Peter had been hard at work on the stake a long time and had it a
little more than half cut through, when he heard a loud sniff
down at the other end of the orchard. He looked up to see--whom
do you think? Why, Bowser the Hound! He hadn't seen Peter yet,
but he had already found Peter's tracks, and it would be but a
few minutes before he found Peter himself.
Poor Peter Rabbit! There wasn't time to finish cutting off the
stake. What could he do? He made a frightened jump just as he had
when he first felt the wire tugging at his leg. Just as before,
he was thrown flat on his face. He scrambled to his feet and
jumped again, only to be thrown just as before. Just then Bowser
the Hound saw him and opening his mouth sent forth a great roar.
Peter made one more frantic jump. Snap! The stake had broken!
Peter pitched forward on his head, turned a somersault, and
scrambled to his feet. He was free at last! That is, he could
run, but after him dragged a piece of the stake.
How Peter did run! It was hard work, for you know he had to drag
that piece of stake after him. But he did it, and just in time he
crawled into the old stone wall on one side of the orchard, while
Bowser the Hound barked his disappointment to the moon.
XVI
Peter Rabbit's Hard Journey
Peter Rabbit sat in the old stone wall along one side of Farmer
Brown's orchard, waiting for Mrs. Moon to put out her light and
leave the world in darkness until jolly, round, red Mr. Sun
should kick off his rosy bed-clothes and begin his daily climb up
in the blue, blue sky. In the winter, Mr. Sun is a late sleeper,
and Peter knew that there would be two or three hours after Mrs.
Moon put out her light when it would be quite dark. And Peter
also knew that by this time Hooty the Owl would probably have
caught his dinner. So would old Granny Fox and Reddy Fox. Bowser
the Hound would be too sleepy to be on the watch. It would be the
very safest time for Peter to try to get to his home in the dear
Old Briar-patch.
So Peter waited and waited. Twice Bowser the Hound, who had
chased him into the old wall, came over and barked at him and
tried to get at him. But the old wall kept Peter safe, and
Bowser gave it up. And all the time Peter sat waiting he was in
great pain. You see, that shiny wire was drawn so tight that it
cut into his flesh and hurt dreadfully, and to the other end of
the wire was fastened a piece of wood, part of the stake to which
the snare had been made fast and which Peter had managed to gnaw
and break off.
It was on account of this that Peter was waiting for Mrs. Moon to
put out her light. He knew that with that stake dragging after
him he would have to go very slowly, and he could not run any
more risk of danger than he actually had to. So he waited and
waited, and by and by, sure enough, Mrs. Moon put out her light.
Peter waited a little longer, listening with all his might.
Everything was still. Then Peter crept out of the old stone wall.
Right away trouble began. The stake dragging at the end of the
wire fast to his leg caught among the stones and pulled Peter up
short. My, how it did hurt! It made the tears come. But Peter
shut his teeth hard, and turning back, he worked until he got the
stake free. Then he started on once more, dragging the stake
after him.
Very slowly across the orchard and under the fence on the other
side crept Peter Rabbit, his leg so stiff and sore that he could
hardly touch it to the snow, and all the time dragging that piece
of stake, which seemed to grow heavier and harder to drag every
minute. Peter did not dare to go out across the open fields, for
fear some danger might happen along, and he would have no place
to hide. So he crept along close to the fences where bushes grow,
and this made it very, very hard, for the dragging stake was
forever catching in the bushes with a yank at the sore leg which
brought Peter up short with a squeal of pain.
This was bad enough, but all the time Peter was filled with a
dreadful fear that Hooty the Owl or Granny Fox might just happen
along. He had to stop to rest very, very often, and then he would
listen and listen. Over and over again he said to himself:
"Oh dear, whatever did I go up to the young peach orchard for
when I knew I had no business there? Why couldn't I have been
content with all the good things that were mine in the Green
Forest and on the Green Meadows? Oh dear! Oh dear!"
Just as jolly, round, red Mr. Sun began to light up the Green
Meadows, Peter Rabbit reached the dear Old Briar-patch. Danny
Meadow Mouse was sitting on the edge of it anxiously watching for
him. Peter crawled up and started to creep in along one of his
little private paths. He got in himself, but the dragging stake
caught among the brambles, and Peter just fell down in the snow
right where he was, too tired and worn out to move.
[Illustration]
XVII
Danny Meadow Mouse Becomes Worried
Danny Meadow Mouse limped around through the dear Old
Briar-patch, where he had lived with Peter Rabbit ever since he
had squirmed out of the claws of Hooty the Owl and dropped there,
right at the feet of Peter Rabbit. Danny limped because he was
still lame and sore from Hooty's terrible claws, but he didn't
let himself think much about that, because he was so thankful to
be alive at all. So he limped around in the Old Briar-patch,
picking up seed which had fallen on the snow, and sometimes
pulling down a few of the red berries which cling all winter to
the wild rose bushes. The seeds in these were very nice indeed,
and Danny always felt especially good after a meal of them.
Danny Meadow Mouse had grown very fond of Peter Rabbit, for Peter
had been very, very good to him. Danny felt that he never, never
could repay all of Peter's kindness. It had been very good of
Peter to offer to share the Old Briar-patch with Danny because
Danny was so far from his own home that it would not be safe for
him to try to get back there. But Peter had done more than that.
He had taken care of Danny, such good care, during the first few
days after Danny's escape from Hooty the Owl. He had brought good
things to eat while Danny was too weak and sore to get things for
himself. Oh, Peter had been very good indeed to him!
But now, as Danny limped around, he was not happy. No, Sir, he
was not happy. The truth is, Danny Meadow Mouse was worried. It
was a different kind of worry from any he had known before. You
see, for the first time in his life, Danny was worrying about
someone else. He was worrying about Peter Rabbit. Peter had been
gone from the Old Briar-patch a whole night and a whole day. He
often was gone all night, but never all day too. Danny was sure
that something had happened to Peter. He thought of how he had
begged Peter not to go up to Farmer Brown's young peach orchard.
He had felt in his bones that it was not safe, that something
dreadful would happen to Peter. How Peter had laughed at him and
bravely started off! Why hadn't he come home?
As he limped around, Danny talked to himself:
"_Why cannot people be content
With all the good things that are sent,
And mind their own affairs at home
Instead of going forth to roam?_"
It was now the second night since Peter Rabbit had gone away.
Danny Meadow Mouse couldn't sleep at all. Round and round through
the Old Briar-patch he limped, and finally sat down at the edge
of it to wait and watch. At last, just as jolly, round, red Mr.
Sun sent his first long rays of light across the Green Meadows,
Danny saw something crawling toward the Old Briar-patch. He
rubbed his eyes and looked again. It was--no, it couldn't
be--yes, it was Peter Rabbit! But what was the matter with him?
Always before Peter had come home lipperty-lipperty-lipperty-lip,
but now he was crawling, actually crawling! Danny Meadow Mouse
didn't know what to make of it.
Nearer and nearer came Peter. Something was following him. No,
Peter was dragging something after him. At last Peter started to
crawl along one of his little private paths into the Old
Briar-patch. The thing dragging behind caught in the brambles,
and Peter fell headlong in the snow, too tired and worn out to
move. Then Danny saw what the trouble was. A wire was fast to one
of Peter's long hind legs, and to the other end of the wire was
fastened part of a stake. Peter had been caught in a snare! Danny
hurried over to Peter and tears stood in his eyes.
"Poor Peter Rabbit! Oh, I'm so sorry, Peter!" he whispered.
XVIII
Danny Meadow Mouse Returns a Kindness
There Peter Rabbit lay. He had dragged that piece of stake a long
way, a very long way, indeed. But now he could drag it no
farther, for it had caught in the bramble bushes. So Peter just
dropped on the snow and cried. Yes, Sir, he cried! You see, he
was so tired and worn out and frightened, and his leg was so
stiff and sore and hurt him so! And then it was so dreadful to
actually get home and be stopped right on your very own doorstep.
So Peter just lay there and cried. Just supposing old Granny Fox
should come poking around and find Peter caught that way! All she
would have to do would be to get hold of that hateful stake
caught in the bramble bushes and pull Peter out where she could
get him. Do you wonder that Peter cried?
By and by he became aware that someone was wiping away his tears.
It was Danny Meadow Mouse. And Danny was singing in a funny
little voice. Pretty soon Peter stopped crying and listened, and
this is what he heard:
"_Isn't any use to cry!
Not a bit! Not a bit!
Wipe your eyes and wipe 'em dry!
Use your wit! Use your wit!
Just remember that tomorrow
Never brings a single sorrow.
Yesterday has gone forever
And tomorrow gets here never.
Chase your worries all away;
Nothing's worse than just today._"
Peter smiled in spite of himself.
"That's right! That's right! Smile away, Peter Rabbit. Smile
away! Your troubles, Sir, are all today. And between you and me,
I don't believe they are so bad as you think they are. Now you
lie still just where you are, while I go see what can be done."
With that, off whisked Danny Meadow Mouse as spry as you please,
in spite of his lame leg, and in a few minutes Peter knew by
little twitches of the wire on his leg that Danny was doing
something at the other end. He was. Danny Meadow Mouse had set
out to gnaw that piece of stake all to splinters. So there he sat
and gnawed and gnawed and gnawed. Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun
climbed higher and higher in the sky, and Danny Meadow Mouse
grew hungry, but still he kept right on gnawing at that
bothersome stake.
[Illustration: _Danny Meadow Mouse had set out to gnaw that piece
of stake all to splinters_]
By and by, happening to look across the snow-covered Green
Meadows, he saw something that made his heart jump. It was Farmer
Brown's boy coming straight over toward the dear Old Briar-patch.
Danny didn't say a word to Peter Rabbit, but gnawed faster than
ever.
Farmer Brown's boy was almost there when Danny stopped gnawing.
There was only a tiny bit of the stake left now, and Danny
hurried to tell Peter Rabbit that there was nothing to stop him
now from going to his most secret retreat in the very heart of
the Old Briar-patch. While Peter slowly dragged his way along,
Danny trotted behind to see that the wire did not catch on the
bushes.
They had safely reached Peter Rabbit's secretest retreat when
Farmer Brown's boy came up to the edge of the dear Old Briar-patch.
"So this is where that rabbit that killed our peach tree lives!"
said he. "We'll try a few snares and put you out of mischief."
And for the rest of the afternoon Farmer Brown's boy was very
busy around the edge of the Old Briar-patch.
[Illustration]
XIX
Peter Rabbit and Danny Meadow Mouse Live High
Peter Rabbit sat in his secretest place in the dear Old
Briar-patch with one of his long hind legs all swelled up and
terribly sore because of the fine wire fast around it and cutting
into it. He could hear Farmer Brown's boy going around on the
edge of the dear Old Briar-patch and stopping every little while
to do something. In spite of his pain, Peter was curious.
Finally he called Danny Meadow Mouse.
"Danny, you are small and can keep out of sight easier than I
can. Go as near as ever you dare to Farmer Brown's boy and find
out what he is doing," said Peter Rabbit.
So Danny Meadow Mouse crept out as near to Farmer Brown's boy as
ever he dared, and studied and studied to make out what Farmer
Brown's boy was doing. By and by he returned to Peter Rabbit.
"I don't know what he's doing, Peter, but he's putting something
in every one of your private little paths leading into the
Briar-patch from the Green Meadows."
"Ha!" said Peter Rabbit.
"There are little loops of that queer stuff you've got hanging to
your leg, Peter," continued Danny Meadow Mouse.
"Just so!" said Peter Rabbit.
"And he's put cabbage leaves and pieces of apple all around,"
said Danny.
"We must be careful!" said Peter Rabbit.
Peter's leg was in a very bad way, indeed, and Peter suffered a
great deal of pain. The worst of it was, he didn't know how to
get off the wire that was cutting into it so. He had tried to
cut the wire with his big teeth, but he couldn't do it. Danny
Meadow Mouse had tried and tried to gnaw the wire, but it wasn't
the least bit of use. But Danny wasn't easily discouraged, and he
kept working and working at it. Once he thought he felt it slip a
little. He said nothing, but kept right on working. Pretty soon
he was sure that it slipped. He went right on working harder than
ever. By and by he had it so loose that he slipped it right off
Peter's leg, and Peter didn't know anything about it. You see,
that cruel wire snare had been so tight that Peter didn't have
any feeling except of pain left in his leg, and so when Danny
Meadow Mouse pulled the cruel wire snare off, Peter didn't know
it until Danny held it up in front of him.
My, how thankful Peter was, and how he did thank Danny Meadow
Mouse! But Danny said that it was nothing at all, just nothing at
all, and that he owed more than that to Peter Rabbit for being so
good to him and letting him live in the dear Old Briar-patch.
It was a long time before Peter could hop as he used to, but
after the first day he managed to get around. He found that
Farmer Brown's boy had spread those miserable wire snares in
every one of his private little paths. But Peter knew what they
were now. He showed Danny Meadow Mouse how he, because he was so
small, could safely run about among the snares and steal all the
cabbage leaves and apples which Farmer Brown's boy had put there
for bait.
Danny Meadow Mouse thought this great fun and a great joke on
Farmer Brown's boy. So every day he stole the bait, and he and
Peter Rabbit lived high while Peter's leg was getting well. And
all the time Farmer Brown's boy wondered why he couldn't catch
Peter Rabbit.
[Illustration]
XX
Timid Danny Meadow Mouse
Danny Meadow Mouse is timid. Everybody says so, and what
everybody says ought to be so. But just as anybody can make a
mistake sometimes, so can everybody. Still, in this case, it is
quite likely that everybody is right. Danny Meadow Mouse is
timid. Ask Peter Rabbit. Ask Sammy Jay. Ask Striped Chipmunk.
They will all tell you the same thing. Sammy Jay might even tell
you that Danny is afraid of his own shadow, or that he tries to
run away from his own tail. Of course this isn't true. Sammy Jay
likes to say mean things. It isn't fair to Danny Meadow Mouse to
believe what Sammy Jay says.
But the fact is Danny certainly is timid. More than this, he
isn't ashamed of it--not the least little bit.
"You see, it's this way," said Danny, as he sat on his doorstep
one sunny morning talking to his friend, old Mr. Toad. "If I
weren't afraid, I wouldn't be all the time watching out, and if
I weren't all the time watching out, I wouldn't have any more
chance than that foolish red ant running across in front of you."
Old Mr. Toad looked where Danny was pointing, and his tongue
darted out and back again so quickly that Danny wasn't sure that
he saw it at all, but when he looked for the ant it was nowhere
to be seen, and there was a satisfied twinkle in Mr. Toad's eyes.
There was an answering twinkle in Danny's own eyes as he
continued.
"No, Sir," said he, "I wouldn't stand a particle more chance than
that foolish ant did. Now if I were big and strong, like Old Man
Coyote, or had swift wings, like Skimmer the Swallow, or were so
homely and ugly looking that no one wanted me, like--like--"
Danny hesitated and then finished rather lamely, "like some folks
I know, I suppose I wouldn't be afraid."
Old Mr. Toad looked up sharply when Danny mentioned homely and
ugly-looking people, but Danny was gazing far out across the
Green Meadows and looked so innocent that Mr. Toad concluded that
he couldn't have had him in mind.
"Well," said he, thoughtfully scratching his nose, "I suppose
you may be right, but for my part fear seems a very foolish
thing. Now, I don't know what it is. I mind my own business, and
no one ever bothers me. I should think it would be a very
uncomfortable feeling."
"It is," replied Danny, "but, as I said before, it is a very good
thing to keep one on guard when there are as many watching for
one as there are for me. Now there's Mr. Blacksnake and--"
"Where?" exclaimed old Mr. Toad, turning as pale as a toad can
turn, and looking uneasily and anxiously in every direction.
[Illustration: _"Where?" exclaimed old Mr. Toad, turning as pale
as a toad can turn_]
Danny turned his head to hide a smile. If old Mr. Toad wasn't
showing fear, no one ever did. "Oh," said he, "I didn't mean that
he is anywhere around here now. What I was going to say was that
there is Mr. Blacksnake and Granny Fox and Reddy Fox and Redtail
the Hawk and Hooty the Owl and others I might name, always
watching for a chance to make a dinner from poor little me. Do
you wonder that I am afraid most of the time?"
"No," replied old Mr. Toad. "No, I don't wonder that you are
afraid. It must be dreadful to feel hungry eyes are watching for
you every minute of the day and night, too."
"Oh, it's not so bad," replied Danny. "It's rather exciting.
Besides, it keeps my wits sharp all the time. I am afraid I
should find life very dull indeed if, like you, I feared nothing
and nobody. By the way, see how queerly that grass is moving over
there. It looks as if Mr. Blacksnake--Why, Mr. Toad, where are
you going in such a hurry?"
[Illustration: _"Why, Mr. Toad, where are you going in such a
hurry?" asked Danny_]
"I've just remembered an important engagement with my cousin,
Grandfather Frog, at the Smiling Pool," shouted old Mr. Toad
over his shoulder, as he hurried so that he fell over his own
feet.
Danny chuckled as he sat alone on his doorstep. "Oh, no, old Mr.
Toad doesn't know what fear is!" said he. "Funny how some people
won't admit what everybody can see for themselves. Now, I am
afraid, and I'm willing to say so."
[Illustration]
XXI
An Exciting Day for Danny Meadow Mouse
Danny Meadow Mouse started along one of his private little paths
very early one morning. He was on his way to get a supply of a
certain kind of grass seed of which he is very fond. He had been
thinking about that seed for some time and waiting for it to get
ripe. Now it was just right, as he had found out the day before
by a visit to the place where this particular grass grew. The
only trouble was it grew a long way from Danny's home, and to
reach it he had to cross an open place where the grass was so
short that he couldn't make a path under it.
"I feel it in my bones that this is going to be an exciting day,"
said Danny to himself as he trotted along. "I suppose that if I
were really wise, I would stay nearer home and do without that
nice seed. But nothing is really worth having unless it is worth
working for, and that seed will taste all the better if I have
hard work getting it."
So he trotted along his private little path, his ears wide open,
and his eyes wide open, and his little nose carefully testing
every Merry Little Breeze who happened along for any scent of
danger which it might carry. Most of all he depended upon his
ears, for the grass was so tall that he couldn't see over it,
even when he sat up. He had gone only a little way when he
thought he heard a queer rustling behind him. He stopped to
listen. There it was again, and it certainly was right in the
path behind him! He didn't need to be told who was making it.
There was only one who could make such a sound as that--Mr.
Blacksnake.
Now Danny can run very fast along his private little paths, but
he knew that Mr. Blacksnake could run faster. "If my legs can't
save me, my wits must," thought Danny as he started to run as
fast as ever he could. "I must reach that fallen old hollow fence
post."
He was almost out of breath when he reached the post and scurried
into the open end. He knew by the sound of the rustling that Mr.
Blacksnake was right at his heels. Now the old post was hollow
its whole length, but halfway there was an old knothole just big
enough for Danny to squeeze through. Mr. Blacksnake didn't know
anything about that hole, and because it was dark inside the old
post, he didn't see Danny pop through it. Danny ran back along
the top of the log and was just in time to see the tip of Mr.
Blacksnake's tail disappear inside. Then what do you think Danny
did? Why, he followed Mr. Blacksnake right into the old post, but
in doing it he didn't make the least little bit of noise.
Mr. Blacksnake kept right on through the old post and out the
other end, for he was sure that that was the way Danny had gone.
He kept right on along the little path. Now Danny knew that he
wouldn't go very far before he found out that he had been fooled,
and of course he would come back. So Danny waited only long
enough to get his breath and then ran back along the path to
where another little path branched off. For just a minute he
paused.
"If Mr. Blacksnake follows me, he will be sure to think that of
course I have taken this other little path," thought Danny, "so I
won't do it."
Then he ran harder than ever, until he came to a place where two
little paths branched off, one to the right and one to the left.
He took the latter and scampered on, sure that by this time Mr.
Blacksnake would be so badly fooled that he would give up the
chase. And Danny was right.
"_Brains are better far than speed
As wise men long ago agreed,_"
said Danny, as he trotted on his way for the grass seed he liked
so well. "I felt it in my bones that this would be an exciting
day. I wonder what next."
XXII
What Happened Next to Danny Meadow Mouse
Danny is so used to narrow escapes that he doesn't waste any time
thinking about them. He didn't this time. "He who tries to look
two ways at once is pretty sure to see nothing," says Danny, and
he knew that if he thought too much about the things that had
already happened, he couldn't keep a sharp watch for the things
that might happen.
Nothing more happened as he hurried along his private little path
to the edge of a great patch of grass so short that he couldn't
hide under it. He had to cross this, and all the way he would be
in plain sight of anyone who happened to be near. Very cautiously
he peeped out and looked this way and looked that way, not
forgetting to look up in the sky. He could see no one anywhere.
Drawing a long breath, Danny started across the open place as
fast as his short legs could take him.
Now all the time, Redtail the Hawk had been sitting in a tree
some distance away, sitting so still that he looked like a part
of the tree itself. That is why Danny hadn't seen him. But
Redtail saw Danny the instant he started across the open place,
for Redtail's eyes are very keen, and he can see a great
distance. With a satisfied chuckle, he spread his broad wings and
started after Danny.
Just about halfway to the safety of the long grass on the other
side, Danny gave a hurried look behind him, and his heart seemed
to jump right into his mouth, for there was Redtail with his
cruel claws already set to seize him! Danny gave a frightened
squeak, for he thought that surely this time he would be caught.
But he didn't mean to give up without trying to escape. Three
jumps ahead of him was a queer-looking thing. He didn't know what
it was, but if there was a hole in it he might yet fool Redtail.
[Illustration: _With a frightened squeak, Danny dived into the
opening just in time_]
One jump! Would he be able to reach it? Two jumps! There was a
hole in it! Three jumps! With another frightened squeak, Danny
dived into the opening just in time. And what do you think he was
in? Why, an old tomato can Farmer Brown's boy had once used to
carry bait in when he went fishing at the Smiling Pool. He had
dropped it there on his way home.
Redtail screamed with rage and disappointment as he struck the
old can with his great claws. He had been sure, very sure, of
Danny Meadow Mouse this time! He tried to pick the can up, but he
couldn't get hold of it. It just rolled away from him every time,
try as he would. Finally, in disgust, he gave up and flew back to
the tree from which he had first seen Danny.
Of course Danny had been terribly frightened when the can
rolled, and by the noise the claws of Redtail made when they
struck his queer hiding place. But he wisely decided that the
best thing he could do was to stay there for a while. And it was
very fortunate that he did so, as he was very soon to find out.
[Illustration]
XXIII
Reddy Fox Grows Curious
Danny Meadow Mouse had sat perfectly still for a long time inside
the old tomato can in which he had found a refuge from Redtail
the Hawk. He didn't dare so much as put his head out for a look
around, lest Redtail should be circling overhead ready to pounce
on him.
"If I stay here long enough, he'll get tired and go away, if he
hasn't already," thought Danny. "This has been a pretty exciting
morning so far, and I find that I am a little tired. I may as
well take a nap while I am waiting to make sure that the way is
clear."
With that Danny curled up in the old tomato can. But it wasn't
meant that Danny should have that nap. He had closed his eyes,
but his ears were still open, and presently he heard soft
footsteps drawing near. His eyes flew open, and he forgot all
about sleep, you may be sure, for those footsteps sounded
familiar. They sounded to Danny very, very much like the
footsteps of--whom do you think? Why, Reddy Fox! Danny's heart
began to beat faster as he listened. Could it be? He didn't dare
peep out. Presently a little whiff of scent blew into the old
tomato can. Then Danny knew--it was Reddy Fox.
"Oh dear! I hope he doesn't find that I am in here!" thought
Danny. "I wonder what under the sun has brought him up here just
now."
If the truth were to be known, it was curiosity that had brought
Reddy up there. Reddy had been hunting for his breakfast some
distance away on the Green Meadows when Redtail the Hawk had
tried so hard to catch Danny Meadow Mouse. Reddy's sharp eyes had
seen Redtail the minute he left the tree in pursuit of Danny, and
he had known by the way Redtail flew that he saw something he
wanted to catch. He had watched Redtail swoop down and had heard
his scream of rage when he missed Danny because Danny had dodged
into the old tomato can. He had seen Redtail strike and strike
again at something on the ground, and finally fly off in disgust
with empty claws.
"Now I wonder what it was Redtail was after and why he didn't
get it," thought Reddy. "He acts terribly put out and disappointed.
I believe I'll go over there and find out."
Off he started at a smart trot toward the patch of short grass
where he had seen Redtail the Hawk striking at something on the
ground. As he drew near, he crept very softly until he reached
the very edge of the open patch. There he stopped and looked
sharply all over it. There was nothing to be seen but an old
tomato can. Reddy had seen it many times before.
"Now what under the sun could Redtail have been after here?"
thought Reddy. "The grass isn't long enough for a grasshopper to
hide in, and yet Redtail didn't get what he was after. It's very
queer. It certainly is very queer."
He trotted out and began to run back and forth with his nose to
the ground, hoping that his nose would tell him what his eyes
couldn't. Back and forth, back and forth he ran, and then
suddenly he stopped.
"Ha!" exclaimed Reddy. He had found the scent left by Danny
Meadow Mouse when he ran across toward the old tomato can. Right
up to the old can Reddy's nose led him. He hopped over the old
can, but on the other side he could find no scent of Danny Meadow
Mouse. In a flash he understood, and a gleam of satisfaction
shone in his yellow eyes as he turned back to the old can. He
knew that Danny must be hiding in there.
"I've got you this time!" he snarled, as he sniffed at the
opening in the end of the can.
[Illustration]
XXIV
Reddy Fox Loses His Temper
Reddy Fox had caught Danny Meadow Mouse, and yet he hadn't caught
him. He had found Danny hiding in the old tomato can, and it
didn't enter Reddy's head that he couldn't get Danny out when he
wanted to. He was in no hurry. He had had a pretty good breakfast
of grasshoppers, and so he thought he would torment Danny awhile
before gobbling him up. He lay down so that he could peep in at
the open end of the old can and see Danny trying to make himself
as small as possible at the other end. Reddy grinned until he
showed all his long teeth. Reddy always is a bully, especially
when his victim is a great deal smaller and weaker than himself.
"I've got you this time, Mr. Smarty, haven't I?" taunted Reddy.
Danny didn't say anything.
"You think you've been very clever because you have fooled me two
or three times, don't you? Well, this time I've got you where
your tricks won't work," continued Reddy, "so what are you going
to do about it?"
Danny didn't answer. The fact is, he was too frightened to
answer. Besides, he didn't know what he could do. So he just kept
still, but his bright eyes never once left Reddy's cruel face.
For all his fright, Danny was doing some hard thinking. He had
been in tight places before and had learned never to give up
hope. Something might happen to frighten Reddy away. Anyway,
Reddy had to get him out of that old can before he would admit
that he was really caught.
For a long time Reddy lay there licking his chops and saying all
the things he could think of to frighten poor Danny Meadow Mouse.
At last he grew tired of this and made up his mind that that it
was time to end it and Danny Meadow Mouse at the same time. He
thrust his sharp nose in at the opening in the end of the old
can, but the opening was too small for him to get more than his
nose in, and he only scratched it on the sharp edges without so
much as touching Danny.
"I'll pull you out," said Reddy and thrust in one black paw.
Danny promptly bit it so hard that Reddy yelped with pain and
pulled it out in a hurry. Presently he tried again with the other
paw. Danny bit this one harder still, and Reddy danced with pain
and anger. Then he lost his temper completely, a very foolish
thing to do, as it always is. He hit the old can, and away it
rolled with Danny Meadow Mouse inside. This seemed to make Reddy
angrier than ever. He sprang after it and hit it again. Then he
batted it first this way and then that way, growing angrier and
angrier. And all the time Danny Meadow Mouse managed to keep
inside, although he got a terrible shaking up.
Back and forth across the patch of short grass Reddy knocked the
old can, and he was in such a rage that he didn't notice where he
was knocking it to. Finally he sent it spinning into the long
grass on the far side of the open patch, close to one of Danny's
private little paths. Like a flash Danny was out and scurrying
along the little path. He dodged into another and presently into
a third, which brought him to a tangle of barbed wire left
there by Farmer Brown when he had built a new fence. Under this
he was safe.
[Illustration: _Like a flash, Danny dodged into a tangle of
barbed wire_]
"Phew!" exclaimed Danny, breathing very hard. "That was the
narrowest escape yet! But I guess I'll get that special grass
seed I started out for, after all."
And he did, while to this day Reddy Fox wonders how Danny got out
of the old tomato can without his knowing it.
_And so you see what temper does
For those who give it rein;
It cheats them of the very thing
They seek so hard to gain._
Danny has had many more adventures, but there isn't room to tell
about them here. Besides, Grandfather Frog is anxious that you
should hear about the queer things that have happened to him.
They are told in the next book.
[Illustration]
_Bedtime Story-Books_
By THORNTON W. BURGESS
The Adventures of Reddy Fox
The Adventures of Johnny Chuck
The Adventures of Peter Cottontail
The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum
The Adventures of Mr. Mocker
The Adventures of Jerry Muskrat
The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse
The Adventures of Grandfather Frog
The Adventures of Chatterer the Red Squirrel
The Adventures of Sammy Jay
The Adventures of Buster Bear
The Adventures of Old Mr. Toad
The Adventures of Prickly Porky
The Adventures of Old Man Coyote
The Adventures of Paddy the Beaver
The Adventures of Poor Mrs. Quack
The Adventures of Bobby Coon
The Adventures of Jimmy Skunk
The Adventures of Bob White
The Adventures of Ol' Mistah Buzzard
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Thornton W. Burgess
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