Peter's big eyes grew rounder than ever with fright at the very thought. “D-d-don't you think of such a thing, Jimmy Skunk I D-d-don't y-y-you think of such a thing!” he chattered. “I know it's something terrible. Oh, dear! I wish I were safe at home in the dear Old Briar-patch.”
Again sounded the strange voice, or was it voices? It seemed sometimes as if there were two or three together. Then again it sounded like only one. Each time Peter Rabbit crept a little closer to Jimmy Skunk. Pretty soon even Jimmy began to feel a little uneasy.
“I'm going home,” said he suddenly.
“I want to, but I don't dare to,” said Peter, shaking all over with fright.
“Pooh! Any one who can run as fast as you can ought not to be afraid,” said Jimmy. “But if you really are afraid, you can come up to my house.”
“Oh, thank you, Jimmy Skunk. I believe I will come sit on your doorstep if you don't mind.”
[Original]
So together they went up to Jimmy Skunk's house, and sat on his doorstep in the moonlight, and listened to the strange voice all the long night; and then, when he saw Old Mother West Wind coming down from the Purple Hills in the early dawn, Peter Rabbit became courageous enough to start for his home in the dear Old Briar-patch.