“Are you going to leave me, White Tail?” asked Bumper.
“Yes, Bumper, for you travel too slow for me. You must find a burrow, and run for it. There must be one around here.”
“Yes, there’s a good one not far from here. But don’t you need me?”
“No, Bumper, I can outrun you, and if you come along Puma may overtake me. Good-bye, and thank you! I’m off now.”
Bumper waited until White Tail was out of sight and hearing. Then he sought a safe burrow, and stood at the entrance to watch and listen. Pretty soon he heard a crash in the bushes, as Puma came dashing along. Close behind him was Great Horn the Owl, flitting from tree to tree.
“I wonder where Rusty is,” Great Horn was saying. “I don’t see him anywhere.”
“Neither do I see White Tail,” roared back Puma, “but I smell him. I’m on the right trail.”
“I wish I could smell Rusty. My eyes are good, but my nose isn’t as sharp as yours, Puma.”
“I don’t care where Rusty is,” was the reply. “I want White Tail, and I’m going to catch him this time. He can’t escape as he did before.”
They swept past Bumper, and made their way down the trail. The White Rabbit sighed, and said: “I do hope White Tail will escape.”