Finally Old Blind Rabbit reared himself on his haunches, and raised a paw for silence. “Listen,” he called. “There’s no sense in jabbering like silly babies. What is the trouble? Don’t all speak at once, but—”
“Where’s Bumper the White Rabbit!” they shouted back in unison.
Once more the senseless chatter made the air ring until Brindley the Lame took a tree stump and signalled for silence. “This isn’t a tea party,” he said, smiling, “and we shouldn’t waste time talking like a lot of magpies. Let some of the leaders speak for all.”
There was instant silence, and hundreds of heads were nodded. Brindley then continued:
“As for my part, I’m not sure but we’re all here on a fool’s errand. I never knew the Shrike to carry news that did any one good. However, we’re here, and a big crowd we are. We’ve brought all of our families with us, big and little, and I’m glad to see them—Mrs. White Tail with her children, and Mrs. Pink Nose—”
Brindley’s jollying pleased the younger rabbits, and they began to laugh and applaud; but not so the leaders. Crooked Ears rose up, and interrupted.
“Come to the point, Brindley! We’re here to drive Bumper the White Rabbit from the woods. That’s the long and short of it. Am I not right?”
A terrifying shout greeted these words, and for a moment it seemed as if bedlam had broken loose. Even Old Blind Rabbit was frightened, and he trembled so that Goggle Eyes was afraid he would fall down.
“What has Bumper done that you should want to drive him from the woods?” was all that Old Blind Rabbit could say.
“It’s not what he’s done,” roared White Tail, leaping to the top of a fallen tree. “It’s what he’s going to do. He’ll not be king of the woods!”