And a big red mouth and an angry scowl,
His teeth are long and sharp and thin,
Oh, your knees knock together when you see him grin,”
whispered Old Barney Owl, as a dark shadow crept in and out among the trees.
“What have you done with Little Jack Rabbit?” demanded the big Circus Elephant.
“I haven’t seen him,” answered Mr. Wicked Wolf.
“Yes, you have,” cried Lady Love.
“What do you know about it?” snarled the old wolf. “If the big Elephant weren’t around I’d make you keep quiet.”
“That’s enough,” said the Elephant, reaching out his trunk to tweak Mr. Wicked Wolf’s ear. “Don’t get gay around here. You come along and help find the little rabbit. You’ll be out of mischief while with us and if we don’t find him pretty soon, I’ll put you and Old Man Weasel and Old Barney Owl in a big bag and shake you up and down and all around till your bones rattle!”
Then off again started the party, Old Barney Owl in the lead, Mr. Wicked Wolf and Old Man Weasel next, then Mr. Rabbit and Lady Love, and last of all, the big Circus Elephant. Every once in a while he’d swing his long lasso, cow-boy fashion, around Mr. Wicked Wolf, or pull up Old Man Weasel with a sharp jerk. And now and then, so’s not to let Old Barney Owl feel lonesome, he’d drop the noose around that old night bird’s head and yank him over backwards. This kept these three bad people mighty well behaved, let me tell you, while looking for Little Jack Rabbit—or pretending to look for him.