Sleepy the Opossum opened his eyes again, and seeing who it was calling him they snapped with anger.
“I wish you’d mind your business, Bumper!” he said in a loud, disagreeable voice. “If you wake me up again I’ll come down and bite you. Now get out!”
“But, Sleepy, you must hide. Loup the Lynx is coming. I saw him only a short distance away, and he’s coming in this direction.”
“Then why don’t you run and hide? Loup is as fond of rabbits as of opossums. If he was coming you’d be the first one to run and hide. No, you can’t make me believe any such story.”
“But on my word of honor, Sleepy, he’s coming,” protested Bumper.
“Let him come then! Now I’m—”
Sleepy didn’t finish his sentence. There was a snap of a twig nearby, and Bumper whispered:
“Run! Run! He’s here! If you wait another minute you’re lost!”
Sleepy was suddenly wide awake. He was suspicious of that snapping twig. He started down the tree for his hole where he would be safe. Half way there he caught sight of a pair of yellow eyes watching him. Then with a scream Loup the Lynx sprang for him, covering the distance between the two trees in one mighty jump. He landed plump on the limb where Sleepy had been sleeping.
But Bumper’s timely warning had been of use. Sleepy was on the next limb, and before Loup could spring again the Opossum slipped into his hole with a squeak of fear. Loup sprang at him with a snarl of rage and anger, for he had missed him by merely an inch.