"Thump, thump!"
This was Peter Rabbit hitting the ground with one of his hind feet. He had stopped eating and was sitting up very straight.
"Thump, thump, thump!" came the signal from the brier patch.
"Thump, thump!" responded Peter Rabbit, and started to run.
With a snarl Reddy Fox sprang after him. Then the thing happened. Reddy Fox caught a glimpse of something going over him and at the same time he received a blow that rolled him over and over in the grass.
In an instant he was on his feet and had whirled about, his eyes yellow with anger. There right in front of him sat Jumper the Hare. Reddy Fox could hardly believe his own eyes! Could it be that Jumper the Hare, the coward, had dared to strike him such a blow? Reddy forgot all about Peter Rabbit. With a snarl he rushed at Jumper the Hare.
Then it happened again. As light as a feather Jumper leaped over him, and as he passed, those big hind legs, at which Reddy Fox had laughed, came back with a kick that knocked all the breath out of Reddy Fox.
Reddy Fox was furious. Twice more he sprang, and twice more he was sent sprawling, with the breath knocked out of his body. That was enough. Tucking his tail between his legs, Reddy Fox sneaked away towards the Green Forest. As he ran he heard Peter Rabbit thumping in the old brier patch.
"I'm safe," signaled Peter Rabbit.
"Thump, thump, thump, thump! The coast is clear," replied Jumper the Hare.