So Jimmy Skunk got ready and Peter Rabbit began to count.
“One!” said Peter. “Two!” said Peter. “Three!”
Jimmy Skunk grabbed the black string and pulled as hard as ever he could and out came—Mr. Black Snake! The string Jimmy Skunk had pulled was Mr. Black Snake's tail, and Mr. Black Snake was very, very angry indeed.
“Ha! Ha! Ha!” laughed Peter Rabbit.
“What do you mean, Jimmy Skunk,” said Mr. Black Snake, “by pulling my tail?”
“Was that your tail?” said Jimmy Skunk, politely. “I won't do it again. Have you seen any beetles?”
But Mr. Black Snake hadn't seen any beetles, and he was so cross that Jimmy Skunk went on over the hill to look for some beetles.
Peter Rabbit was still laughing and laughing and laughing. And the more he laughed the angrier grew Mr. Black Snake, till finally he started after Peter Rabbit to teach him a lesson.
Then Peter Rabbit stopped laughing, for Mr. Black Snake can run very fast. Away went Peter Rabbit down the Crooked Little Path as fast as he could go, and away went Mr. Black Snake after him.
But Jimmy Skunk didn't even look once to see if Mr. Black Snake had caught Peter Rabbit to teach him a lesson, for Jimmy Skunk had found some beetles and was eating his breakfast.