There was one thing, however, that Jimmy had overlooked. As the days went by, one by one his friends stayed away from the garden-patch. And at last there was nobody left who wanted to push the wheelbarrow except Fatty Coon. And Fatty Coon was really no friend of his at all. In fact, Jimmy did not like him, because he never could feel sure that Fatty would not get hungry all at once and try to eat him.
But Fatty teased so hard that at last Jimmy agreed to give him his turn at the fun (Jimmy was always careful to speak of gathering vegetables and wheeling them home as "fun").
When the barrow was full, Jimmy Rabbit again climbed on top of the load. But he kept very close watch of Fatty. And he was ready, any moment, to leap off the wheelbarrow in case Fatty should reach for his legs.
Fatty Coon was strong. He did not tire so easily as the others had. But finally he let go the handles and straightened up.
"What's the matter?" asked Jimmy. "You're not tired, are you?"
"No!" said Fatty. "But it's harder work than I supposed. I declare, I'm getting terribly hungry."
When Jimmy Rabbit heard him say that, his heart went pitty-pat. And he almost ran away, then and there.
But what would become of his nice new wheelbarrow if he did that? He was afraid that Fatty Coon would run off with it.