“Well, then, Spotted Tail has been spreading false rumors about you. He asked me to carry the message, but I refused, and he asked Mr. Woodpecker and Towhee the Chewink. They told me so. But they wouldn’t listen to him.”
“I’m very grateful for that, and you can tell Towhee and Mr. Woodpecker so. But if nobody carried the news how did it get abroad?”
“Mr. Shrike the Butcher Bird carried it just because we wouldn’t. And after telling all the rabbits he told the news to Mr. Fox and Buster the Bear.”
“What is the news he told?” asked Bumper, gravely.
In a few words Rusty told him, and when he was through Bumper was graver than before. It pained him to think that Spotted Tail would betray him, and it made him sad to believe that his words could stir up discord among the rabbits.
“Thank you, Rusty,” he said in conclusion. “I’m glad to know it. Forewarned is forearmed.”
“Oh! Ho!” laughed Rusty. “Now you begin to change your mind about trouble. But you don’t have to hunt for it. It’s coming soon. It’s here now!”
STORY XI
THE RABBITS RISE AGAINST BUMPER
Forewarned by Rusty, Bumper was partly prepared for the trouble that was brewing, but not so Old Blind Rabbit. Bumper had intended to tell him the truth, but he didn’t want to raise unnecessary alarm. Perhaps, after all, Rusty had exaggerated the danger, and nothing would come of Spotted Tail’s work.
So one morning he was greatly disturbed when there was a noise outside the burrow made by the pattering of many little feet. It was Goggle Eyes who brought the information in to Old Blind Rabbit.