XII. THE PLOT OF TWO SCAMPS
SAMMY JAY, looking around for mischief, found Reddy Fox sitting on his door-step with his chin in both hands and looking as if he hadn't a friend in the world.
"What are you doing?" asked Sammy Jay.
"I'm just a-studying," replied Reddy Fox.
"What are you studying? Perhaps I can help you," said Sammy Jay.
Reddy Fox heaved a long sigh. "I'm a-studying how I can catch Peter Rabbit," replied Reddy.
Sammy Jay scratched his head thoughtfully. Reddy Fox still sat with his chin in his hands and thought and thought and thought. Sammy Jay sat on one foot and scratched and scratched and scratched his head with the other. Suddenly Sammy looked up.
"I have it!" said he. "You remember the hollow log over beyond the old hickory-tree?"
Reddy nodded his head.
"Well, I'll go down and invite Peter Rabbit to come over there and see the strangest thing in the world. You know what great curiosity Peter Rabbit has. Now, you be hiding in the hollow log, and when you hear me say to Peter Rabbit, 'the strangest thing in the world is waiting for you over there, Peter,' you spring out, and you'll have Peter."