Well, everyone turned and ran like the wind. Naturally, nobody wanted to be last, after what Major Monkey had said.
It looked, for a few moments, as if the whole army was going to cross the fence at the same instant. But Billy Woodchuck was so unlucky as to step into a hole. He fell head over heels. And by the time he had picked himself up and reached the fence all the rest were safe on the other side of it.
Things looked very dark for Billy Woodchuck—especially when Major Monkey grinned horribly at him between the rails and said:
"Too bad, my boy! But this is war, you know.... Please don't forget the time! To-morrow, at sunrise!"
Billy Woodchuck's heart sank. He wished he had never joined the army. And then an idea came to him. It was such a simple one that it is a wonder he hadn't thought of it instantly. Instead of going over the fence, to everybody's surprise he squirmed under it. And everybody was vastly relieved. Even Major Monkey appeared to be delighted.
"I'm afraid"—he said with a smile—"I'm afraid we'll have to shoot the rest of the army at sunrise, for they went over the fence last."
But Mr. Crow spoke up and said: "Nonsense! The rest of us went over first!"
Major Monkey had to admit that that was true. And he showed plainly that he was disappointed. Although he did not look the least bit cruel, it was clear that he had looked forward to shooting—and the more the merrier.
"It's really a great pity," he said, "that we can't have a shot at somebody."