The Rabbit sniggered behind his paw:
'I'd like to see you burrowing about in a hedgerow, you beauty. Fancy a warren of cab-horses!'
'You mustn't all be silly,' said Baby Jane. 'You won't laugh when you find yourself being laid for breakfast to-morrow morning. Run, Rabbit, as hard as you can, and tell my army to march here faster than ever an army marched before.'
But even at this desperate moment that wild Rabbit must play his pranks, and, instead of at once departing down his hole, he went loping off into the darkness among the sleeping beasts.
'I must wish my little Leopard good-night,' he explained over his shoulder as he went.
In a few minutes they heard a shrill voice at some distance singing:
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'Bye, Baby Bunting. Didums go a-hunting? Didums chase a rabbit? Didums try to grab it? Didums want a rabbit-skin To wrap his baby tootsies in?' |
Then there came a fierce growl and a rush, and the Rabbit shot past them, into his hole, like a flash of lightning.
Long hours of waiting followed. In thought Baby Jane saw the Rabbit racing furiously mile after mile across the dark desert, growing tired and panting till his heart was nearly bursting; but galloping, galloping on. Now his little muscles gave out utterly, and yet he went galloping on—with his soul. At last, with eyes growing dim, he saw a palm slender and black against the starlit sky, and round it wide dark shadows—the sleeping regiments of Baby Jane's army.
Then, it might be, he gathered his last shred of strength for that last mile, and came galloping desperately in among the startled beasts, to fall head over heels as if he were shot dead.