This dare was accepted at once.
“Stand back, all of you, then!” Bumper added. “I want to aim straight. No,” he continued, changing his mind, “I won’t throw it at Goggle Eyes. I’ll toss it up in the air, and
‘What goes up must come down,
Either on heads or on the ground.’”
“You can’t do it, Bumper!” exclaimed one of the older rabbits.
“Can’t do it!” retorted Bumper, puffing up his cheeks at what he considered a challenge to his strength. The ball was twice the size of his head, and at a distance looked big and heavy. But Bumper had tested its weight, and found it light and easy to handle. Here was a good chance to make them think he was strong and muscular.
He laughed good-naturedly, and added: “I’ll show you if I can’t! I’ve thrown bigger balls than this one.”
He turned to grab it in his two front paws, but Fuzzy Wuzz turned suddenly pale, and cried:
“Oh, Bumper, don’t—please don’t!”
Proud of the attention he was attracting, and pleased at the thought that Fuzzy Wuzz didn’t want to see him strain himself, he smiled, and put all the strength he had in the pull that loosened the big ball from the twig. After that it was easy to lift it in his two paws. It was almost as light as a toy balloon.