The ending of the football match had made Baby Jane a little sad, but during dinner a happy thought struck her.
'This afternoon we'll go fox-hunting,' she said.
'Hurray!' shouted the creatures in chorus.
'Now, who will be my horse?' said Baby Jane.
All the creatures cried out at once. The Rabbit was the most eager of all. He left his place, and, rushing round to Baby Jane, humped his back and begged her to try him.
'The Rabbit had better be the "Fox,"' said Miss Crocodile, with her mouth full (which, by the way, was saying a good deal). 'Why, he isn't strong enough to——'
'Strong!' squeaked the indignant Rabbit. 'Huh! I'll box any three of you,' and he put himself in a fighting attitude, and bounced up and down like an india-rubber ball in front of the creatures, who had now risen. With his palm-leaf bib flapping as he bounced he looked very absurd.
'Oh, no larks!' he said more gently. 'You can hunt my clockwork mouse if you like, but mind he doesn't turn nasty and hunt you!'
After a little persuasion, however, he consented to be the 'Fox,' and Miss Crocodile beguiled a dozen little nephews and nieces from the rivers, by the promise of an apricot each if they were good, to be the hounds.
It was a splendid afternoon, with little clouds, warmed by the yellow sunlight, romping like lambs across the blue sky-fields, and the sound of a pleasant wind in the shady palms.