“What shall we do with that bad boy?” asked Mr. Fox of Mr. Bear. “You know so much about everybody’s business, and where every one is, you can go and call all the animals together. Then we’ll decide what is best.”
The fox disappeared and in a short time Johnny began hearing rustling sounds in the bushes about him. Suddenly the clearing was crowded with animals. A big old rabbit with ragged whiskers and long fur frightened him more than the bear or the fox, because he remembered all the rabbits he had caught.
Mr. Bear sat down beside Johnny and cleared his throat.
“This little boy,” he began, “has caught a rabbit, and has put him in a pen. He may kill it and eat it. Now, we don’t know when he may take a gun and come out to shoot us.”
All the animals looked solemnly at Johnny. Mr. Bear went on: “This is his first trip so far into the woods alone. Shall we send him home to his mother?”
Mr. Fox looked at Johnny through his narrow eyes, then said: “Let’s chase him through the woods and see how he likes it; guess that will teach him a lesson.”
Johnny was frightened almost to death and his lips trembled. He looked straight at Mr. Fox, but he didn’t cry. Mr. Bear laid his big paw on Johnny’s shoulder. Then old Mr. Rabbit spoke:
“I don’t think he meant to do us harm. You know he has been a good boy up to this time. Suppose we give him one more chance.”
Most of the animals did not like this idea, but Mr. Bear, the judge, thought it would do. So he dismissed court, and with Mr. Rabbit escorted Johnny to the edge of the woods where they let him go.
Johnny went home and gave the little rabbit some carrots, then filled a basket with cabbages and turnips, and took the basket and the rabbit to the edge of the woods. Off scampered the rabbit and told the other animals about the basket. That night there was a great feast in the woods, and Johnny was much happier than he would have been had he kept the poor little rabbit.