[Illustration: Mrs. Duck was always in a hurry.]
She did not stop to talk to Bunny.
She did not stop to catch any of the little bugs that she saw in the path.
"I wonder what is the matter with Mrs. Duck," Bunny said to himself.
"I wonder why she walks along this little path every day."
Bunny thought and thought about the secret.
"I will ask Mrs. Duck to tell me her secret," he said.
So Bunny sat down under the maple tree to wait for Mrs. Duck.
He waited and waited.
It was very warm in the field.
After a while Bunny shut his eyes and he fell fast asleep.
He slept such a long time that when he opened his eyes the sun was just going to bed.
"Well, well!" he said. "Mrs. Duck must have gone long ago."
Just then he saw Sammy Red Squirrel.
"Have you seen Mrs. Duck to-day?" he asked.
"Oh, yes!" answered Sammy. "She walked along the path early this afternoon."
The next day Bunny sat down under the maple tree to watch again.
But this time he was not alone.
He had asked Billy to come with him.
"If you are with me, I shall not to sleep," he said.
So the two little rabbits sat down to wait for Mrs. Duck.
They waited and waited.
It was very warm in the field. After a while Bunny shut his eyes. Then Billy shut his eyes, and they both fell fast asleep.
They slept such a long time that when they opened their eyes the sun was just going to bed.
Bobby Squirrel was sitting in the maple tree over their heads.
"Have you seen Mrs. Duck?" asked Bunny.
"Oh, yes!" answered Bobby. "She walked along the path early this afternoon."
"Well, well!" said Bunny. "I will try again to-morrow. I will ask Bobtail to come with me. Perhaps he can keep awake."