Naturally, that took some time, for there were several dozens of them.
"Who shouted 'Halt?'" the Major asked at last.
But nobody knew. At least, nobody answered. And there was a good deal of low talking and craning of necks. For some reason or other, everybody peered at Peter Mink. But he stared straight ahead in the most innocent fashion.
Major Monkey said nothing more. But he walked behind the army and picked up a stick.
"Forward, march!" he commanded then. And as the army moved on, he continued to walk in the rear, just behind old Mr. Crow.
Soon the cry, "Halt!" sounded again. And as soon as he heard it, Major Monkey threw his stick with great force and caught Peter Mink neatly in the back of his head. Peter Mink toppled over where he stood.
"There!" Major Monkey remarked. "He won't bother us any more to-day." And before the army had stopped gasping, he marched it forward again, leaving Peter Mink stretched upon the ground.
Some of the generals objected, and said that they thought that Peter Mink ought to be looked after.
But Major Monkey told them that they were in the army, and that it was war, and they must expect even worse things to happen.
Now, Jimmy Rabbit was a tender-hearted chap. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving even a rascal like Peter Mink wounded and alone.