All night long Bumper kept a watchful eye on Loup and the mouth of the hole. Once the Lynx got up and yawned, stretching his great, powerful legs, but he didn’t change his place. The moon came out, partly flooding the pit with its bright light. Bumper crouched in the shadows and waited.
Mr. Fox and Sneaky were so quiet that Loup grew suspicious. He raised his head and glared around him. One side of the pit was in dark shadow, and he crept toward it to see if all was well with his victim.
This was Bumper’s opportunity. Quick as a flash he darted across the pit. In the moonlight his white coat was hardly visible. It was not until Loup heard the crunch of his feet on the sand that the Lynx was aware of his presence. Then he made a dive for him, but Bumper scooted into the hole and escaped.
“If I’d known that rabbit was down here,” growled Loup, “I’d kept watch at that hole.” Then grinning wickedly, he added: “But a rabbit or two doesn’t make much difference so long as I have you, Sneaky.”
Sneaky the Wolf made no reply, but sulked in his corner. He was debating in his mind whether it wouldn’t be better to attack Mr. Fox, and offer him as a peace offering. Perhaps Loup would be satisfied with that, and then let him go.
“Loup,” he said, “Mr. Fox is down here, too. Now if you’ll promise to let me go, I’ll catch him and give him to you for breakfast. He’s much tenderer and fatter than I, and I’m sure you’d like him.”
“Ah! Ha! So Mr. Fox is down here, is he?” said Loup, licking his jaws. “Then my breakfast and dinner’s all prepared for me.”
“But if you don’t let me go,” whined Sneaky, “I’ll help Mr. Fox to get away.”
This threat amused Loup, and he rolled over and over with laughter. “How would you help him, Sneaky?” he asked finally. “The two of you together couldn’t get out of this pit. No, no, you’re prisoners, and I’m doing you both a favor by eating you. If I didn’t you’d die down here from slow starvation. Now you see how good I am to you.”
“Perhaps you can’t jump out either,” replied Sneaky. “No, I don’t believe you can.”