“And Rusty and Mr. Woodpecker refused to carry the message?” queried the Shrike.
“Yes,” sighed Spotted Tail. “I don’t believe they like me. I’ve never been very friendly with the birds.”
Shrike the Butcher Bird hesitated for a moment to impale a worm on a thorn for future use, and then said:
“All right, Spotted Tail. I’ll carry the message to every rabbit burrow in the woods.”
“Oh, Shrike, you’re so kind!” exclaimed Spotted Tail; but the bird interrupted him with a harsh laugh.
“It isn’t because I like you, Spotted Tail,” he said, “that I’m doing this, but just to spite the other birds. I’ll punish them for scorning and disliking me. That’s why I do it. Good-bye! I’ll begin spreading the news right away.”
STORY IX
THE WORK OF SHRIKE THE BUTCHER BIRD
Shrike the Butcher Bird was as good as his word. He was a vindictive bird, and it actually gave him pleasure in spreading Spotted Tail’s message because all the other birds had refused. First he went to White Tail at the far end of the woods, for he knew that White Tail was a big rabbit who, at one time, had had trouble with the Old Blind Rabbit.
“Oh, White Tail,” called the Shrike, “here is news for you! Bumper the White Rabbit has been proclaimed king of the woods by Old Blind Rabbit, and he intends to make all of you his slaves.”
White Tail reared himself on his hind legs, and clicked his teeth. “If you’d come with good news, Shrike, I wouldn’t have believed you; but as the carrier of bad news I think there must be something in it. Who sent you?”