The Adventures of Old Man Coyote

CONTENTS

LISTEN!” It was Jimmy Skunk speaking. He had just met Peter Rabbit halfway down the Crooked Little Path just where the moonlight was brightest. But he did not need to tell Peter to listen. Peter was listening,-listening with all his might. He was sitting up very straight, and his long ears were turned in the direction of the strange sound. Just then it came again, a sound such as neither Peter Rabbit nor Jimmy Skunk had ever heard before. Peter's teeth began to chatter.
“Wha—wha—what is it?” he whispered.
“I don't know, unless it is Hooty the Owl gone crazy,” replied Jimmy.
“No,” said Peter, “it isn't Hooty the Owl. Hooty never could make such a noise as that.”
“Maybe it's Dippy the Loon. I've heard him on the Big River, and he sounds just as if he had gone crazy,” replied Jimmy.
“No,” said Peter, looking behind him nervously. “No, it isn't Dippy the Loon, for Dippy never leaves the water, and that voice came from the Green Meadows. I wouldn't be surprised—” Peter didn't finish, for just then the strange voice sounded again, and it was nearer than before. Never had the Green Meadows or the Green Forest heard anything like it. It sounded something like Hooty the Owl, and Dippy the Loon, and two or three little dogs howling all together, and there was something in the sound that made cold chills run up and down Peter Rabbit's backbone. He crept a little closer to Jimmy Skunk.
“I believe it is Farmer Brown's boy and some of his friends laughing and shouting together,” said Jimmy.
“No, it isn't! Farmer Brown's boy and his friends can make some dreadful noises but nothing so dreadful as that. It makes me afraid, Jimmy Skunk,” said Peter.