When he came to a wide clearing stretching across his path, he stopped at the edge to look around. He had never been there before, and he was a little cautious. It might be a trap set for him by the Hunters, and he sniffed the air to see if the Hounds were near.
Then he hopped across it until he came to a deep hole or pit in the middle. He wondered what this was for, and stopped at the brink of it to look down. It was a bare, empty pit, with no sign of a trap near it.
Suddenly from behind there came a rush of small feet, and Mr. Fox shouted aloud, “Now I’ve got you, Bumper!”
So swiftly had Mr. Fox jumped out of the bushes that Bumper had merely a second to think. He couldn’t retreat, for Mr. Fox was immediately behind him. There seemed to be only one thing to do. He took a flying leap across the pit, hoping to reach the other side in safety.
But it was a wide pit. No rabbit could hop across it. Bumper would never have tried it if he hadn’t been excited. He missed the other side by a yard, and tumbled straight into the pit. He landed on the bottom with a thump, and then looked up. Mr. Fox was grinning down at him.
“I thought you’d do that,” he said. “That’s why I waited until you were looking in the pit. Your curiosity will cost you dearly, Bumper.”
“But Mr. Fox, the truce isn’t up yet,” pleaded Bumper. “Surely you won’t break your word of honor.”
“No,” grinned the Fox, “I won’t break my word, but I’ll keep you here until morning, and then breakfast off you. That wouldn’t be breaking my word.”
“I don’t intend to stay in here until morning,” replied Bumper.
“How’ll you get out?” laughed the Fox.