The Project Gutenberg eBook, Little Jack Rabbit and Danny Fox, by David Cory, Illustrated by H. S. Barbour

LITTLE JACK RABBIT
AND DANNY FOX

LITTLE JACK RABBIT
BOOKS

(Trademark Registered)

BY
DAVID CORY

Little Jack Rabbit’s Adventures

Little Jack Rabbit and Danny Fox

Little Jack Rabbit and the Squirrel Brothers

Little Jack Rabbit and Chippy Chipmunk

Little Jack Rabbit and the Big Brown Bear

Little Jack Rabbit and Uncle John Hare

Little Jack Rabbit and Professor Crow

Little Jack Rabbit and Old Man Weasel

Little Jack Rabbit and Mr. Wicked Wolf

Little Jack Rabbit and Hungry Hawk

“Now Be Friendly,” Coaxed Danny Fox.

Frontispiece—(Page 10)

Little Jack Rabbit and Danny Fox.

LITTLE JACK RABBIT BOOKS

(Trademark Registered)

LITTLE JACK RABBIT
AND DANNY FOX

BY
DAVID CORY

Author of
Little Jack Rabbit’s Adventures
Little Jack Rabbit and the Squirrel Brothers
Little Jack Rabbit and Chippy Chipmunk
Little Jack Rabbit and the Big Brown Bear

ILLUSTRATED BY
H. S. BARBOUR

NEW YORK
GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS

Made in the United States of America

Copyright, 1921, BY
GROSSET & DUNLAP

CONTENTS

LITTLE JACK RABBIT
AND DANNY FOX

THE INVITATION

One morning as Little Jack Rabbit looked out of his house in the Old Bramble Patch, whom should he see but Danny Fox peeking out from behind the Big Chestnut Tree.

Now Little Jack Rabbit knew that Danny Fox was not there for any good purpose. No, sir. Whenever Danny Fox was around there was sure to be trouble. So Little Jack Rabbit hopped back into his burrow to tell Mrs. Rabbit.

“Well, you keep a lookout from the front door,” she said, “and I’ll stand watch at the kitchen door. If Danny Fox thinks he’s going to get the better of the rabbit family he’s very much mistaken,” and Mrs. John Rabbit gave her head a jerk and her pink nose a million twinkles.

“Oh, how I hate that dreadful Danny Fox! I wish your father hadn’t gone out so early this morning.”

Little Jack Rabbit hopped back to the front door and looked over to the Shady Forest. But, oh, dear me! Just then up jumped Danny Fox right in front of him.

“Good morning,” he said, licking his lips with his great red tongue. “How is my little fat bunny this morning?”

“I haven’t got any time to talk,” answered Little Jack Rabbit, backing into the house.

“Now be friendly,” coaxed Danny Fox, coming closer. “I’ve come all the way from my den on the hillside to talk to you this beautiful morning.”

“All right,” answered the little rabbit; “but stay where you are or I’ll go inside and close the door.”

“That’s not a nice way to speak when I’ve come to ask you to take dinner with us,” replied Danny Fox. “My little boys, Slyboots and Bushytail, want you to come, and Mrs. Fox has made a lovely carrot stew.”

Then Danny Fox sat down and, folding his front paws across his fur waistcoat, looked so kindly at the little bunny that I’m sorry to say he answered, “I’ll come!” before he really thought it over. If he had only gone inside the house to ask his mother. But he didn’t. He never even thought of it, but put on his cap and followed that wicked old robber into the Shady Forest just as though he was his best friend.

Now everybody don’t get scared

’Cause little Jackie Rabbit dared

Go out to dine with Danny Fox

Inside his den amid the rocks.

Just wait to see what happens when

They get outside the Shady Glen.

Perhaps a kind and loving friend

Some needed help will quickly send.

THE FARMER’S BOY

As Little Jack Rabbit and Danny Fox came to the Duck Pond, whom should they see but the Farmer’s Boy sitting by the Old Mill polishing his gun.

Danny Fox stopped short. He had meant to slip around by the bushes and across the Sunny Meadow to his den on the woody hillside. But the sight of that gun made him change his mind.

Now Mr. Merry Sun knew something was wrong as soon as he saw Little Jack Rabbit with Danny Fox. He knew if anybody went with that old robber something mighty unpleasant would surely happen. So kind Mr. Merry Sun sent one of his bright beams dancing along the shiny gun barrel to dazzle the Farmer Boy’s eyes, who turned his head toward the Shady Forest.

Goodness me! When he saw Danny Fox he swung the gun to his shoulder and pulled the trigger. Bang! it went, almost kicking him over.

Ping! and the bullet struck the tree close to Little Jack Rabbit. Away went Danny Fox in one direction, and away hopped the little rabbit in the other.

“Come, Sic’em!” cried the Farmer’s Boy, running after Danny Fox.

The old dog, with his nose close to the ground, ran swiftly across the Sunny Meadow and up the hillside. When he came to the pile of rocks he stopped short and began to bark.

“Is he there, old scout?” asked the Farmer’s Boy.

“Wow, wow, wow!” answered Old Sic’em.

“Oh dear, oh dear!” whispered Mrs. Fox, “do you think they’ll get us?”

Danny Fox laughed, but not very loud. He didn’t want the Farmer’s Boy to hear him. “Never fear, my dear. I’ve rolled a great big stone against the front door. Old Sic’em is all bark. At the same time, it’s not very pleasant to have enemies so close to the house. Where are Slyboots and Bushytail?”

“They are out playing. Do you think anything can happen to them?” answered Mrs. Fox anxiously.

“Not while the Farmer’s Boy is pounding on the front door,” replied Danny Fox. “They won’t come home while he’s around.”

“I’m going back for a shovel,” said the Farmer’s Boy to himself, and he ran over to the Old Mill, leaving Sic’em still digging away. He knew Sic’em would keep Danny Fox in his den until he got back. Old Sic’em was a good hunter and wouldn’t leave. That’s what the Farmer’s Boy thought as he hurriedly picked up the shovel and started back for the hillside.

THE ESCAPE

But something had happened while he had been gone. Little Jack Rabbit had hopped along the edge of the Shady Forest almost up to where Old Sic’em was digging out Danny Fox’s front door.

Just then the old dog had stopped to rest and, looking around, saw the little rabbit. In a second he forgot all about Danny Fox. Down the Sunny Meadow, across the Bubbling Brook, around in a great circle, he chased the little bunny until he finally popped into his burrow in the Old Bramble Patch.

Of course, when the Farmer’s Boy returned to Danny Fox’s house, there was no Sic’em to be seen anywhere. And there wasn’t any Danny Fox, nor Mrs. Fox, either, in the den.

But the Farmer’s Boy didn’t know that. Oh, my no! He hadn’t seen them creep out when Old Sic’em ran after the little rabbit. He just set to work with his shovel and dug away until he reached Danny Fox’s house. But there was nobody home. No, indeed. The Fox House was empty.

The Farmer’s Boy was mad. Of course he was. He had dug and dug and dug until his arms ached, and when he had finally reached the place where he hoped to find Danny Fox, there wasn’t any Danny Fox. It was enough to make any boy mad.

And where do you suppose Danny Fox and Mrs. Fox were all this time? Why, they were in the Shady Forest with Bushytail and Slyboots.

“We must find another home,” said Danny Fox. “It won’t do to go back to the old one.”

“No, indeed,” sighed Mrs. Fox; “there’s nothing left but a pile of sand and stones.”

“I know of a nice place,” cried Slyboots. “Shall I show it to you?”

“Yes,” answered Danny Fox. Then Slyboots led them to a cave in the Shady Forest. It was under a ledge of rocks on a little rise of ground. Big trees and thick bushes grew all around it. It was so hidden from sight that Danny Fox was almost glad they had lost their old home.

“This is very fine, my son,” he said, turning to Slyboots. “It’ll be a long time before anyone finds out where we live.”

DANNY FOX IS DISCOVERED

Old Sic’em, the Kind Farmer’s dog, was sound asleep, his head half through the round front door of his little house in the old farm yard.

But as soon as he heard the thumpty-thump of Little Jack Rabbit’s feet, he woke up mighty quick. Maybe he thought a tramp was coming down the road, and maybe he didn’t.

“Hello, Sic’em!” said the little rabbit. He wasn’t afraid, you know, for the old dog was fastened with a chain, one end to his collar and the other to the little dog-house.

“Good morning,” answered Old Sic’em, opening his mouth to yawn, for it was lazy work lying there all day, except when the Kind Farmer took him to the village.

Just then whom should the little rabbit see but Danny Fox sneaking behind the trees. Now it had been a long time since that old robber had been around, for something dreadful had happened to him. Yes, sir! Old Danny Fox had lost a bit of his long bushy tail.

You see, it had happened on the night he had tiptoed softly through the Shady Forest, along the Old Rail Fence, over the Sunny Meadow, to the farmyard.

Mrs. Moon shone bright and clear and Billy Breeze whistled a gentle tune as Mr. Longtooth Rat looked around the corner of the barn and saw Danny Fox creeping up to the chicken house.

“He, he!” laughed the old robber rat to himself, “Cocky Doodle and Henny Penny had better look out.” And then he began to laugh some more. I guess he didn’t care what happened to the Kind Farmer’s chickens.

Well, closer and closer crept the old robber fox, searching with his quick eyes here and there and everywhere for an opening. But he couldn’t find any, for the Kind Farmer had locked the door and nailed little pieces of tin over the big cracks and holes in the boards.

“I’ll have to dig a tunnel under the door,” said the old fox to himself, and he started in to dig away, and pretty soon he was half-way in.

All this time Mr. Longtooth Rat had been squinting through a crack in the barn, but when finally he could see only the tip of Danny Fox’s bushy tail, he called to his wife:

“Look, look! my dear! Danny Fox is almost inside the Henhouse!”

“You don’t mean to say you’ve been standing here all this time without giving warning?” exclaimed Mrs. Longtooth Rat sharply. “Gracious me, I’m surprised you’re such a coward.”

THE ALARM

“You don’t mean to stand here and let Danny Fox steal Henny Penny and Cocky Doodle and maybe Ducky Waddles?” almost shouted Mrs. Longtooth Rat, as Danny Fox’s hind feet threw back the dirt from the tunnel he was digging under the Henhouse.

“Well, what can I do about it?” asked Mr. Longtooth Rat.

“What can you do?” answered his wife angrily. “You can run into the farmhouse and tell Old Sic’em.”

You see, the Kind Farmer was away, and his wife was all alone, so she kept Old Sic’em in the house at night.

“All right,” answered the old rat, and he ran softly across the barnyard, under the back porch, and through a hole into the kitchen. As soon as Old Sic’em learned what was the matter, he ran upstairs and woke up the farmer’s wife.

The very first thing she did was to look out of the window. Of course, you know what she saw. But if you don’t, I’ll tell you. It was Danny Fox’s tail sticking out of the hole under the door of the Henhouse.

It didn’t take her a minute to softly open the kitchen door and let out Old Sic’em, and before Danny Fox could back out from under the Henhouse, the old watchdog had him by his long bushy tail.

My goodness! What a jump Danny Fox gave. But Old Sic’em held on. Then Danny Fox gave another jump, and this time he got away, for Old Sic’em had only a few teeth. But just the same, Danny Fox left the tip of his beautiful bushy tail behind him.

“You’re a good dog,” said the farmer’s wife, patting Old Sic’em. “If you had all your teeth that old fox never would have pulled away.”

Then she went into the house, but not back to bed, for Mr. Merry Sun was just getting up and it was early morning.

“Cock-a-doodle-do,

The grass is wet with dew.

Come, give the Henhouse key a turn

And we will catch the early worm,”

sang Cocky Doodle.

I guess the Kind Farmer’s wife understood him, for she came back and unlocked the door. Then she sprinkled corn on the ground for the chickens’ breakfast, and after that she milked Mrs. Cow, who was waiting at the pasture fence.

“Gracious me!” exclaimed Henny Penny, almost falling into the hole which Danny Fox had made. And she began to cackle so loudly that Cocky Doodle forgot all about his breakfast.

“You can thank me that Danny Fox didn’t get in your house,” said Mrs. Longtooth Rat. “I made Mr. Longtooth tell Old Sic’em just in time. If I had waited another minute, it would have been too late.”

THE KIND WILLOW TREE

Well, to go back to Little Jack Rabbit and Old Sic’em, who were watching Danny Fox sneak through the trees, as I mentioned two stories ago.

“Oh dear me! There is that dreadful fox again,” sighed the little bunny boy.

“You don’t mean it!” exclaimed the old watchdog, and he told the little rabbit all that I’ve just told you. And when he had finished, he went inside his little doghouse and brought out the tip of Danny Fox’s beautiful bushy tail.

Just then the Kind Farmer whistled from the woodpile, and away hopped the little rabbit to hide in the long meadow grass.

All of a sudden he met Timmy Meadowmouse near his little round house of woven grass, fastened on three stiff stalks.

“Helloa, Little Jack Rabbit. Are you hiding from somebody?” Just then, oh dear me! a big snake crawled out of the ground and away went the little meadowmouse, and away hopped the little bunny, and if Bobbie Redvest hadn’t told me, I don’t believe I ever would have found out where they did go.

Well, by and by, after a while, Little Jack Rabbit came to the Old Duck Pond where Granddaddy Bullfrog sat on his log all day fishing for flies and tiny fishes. Just overhead hung the old willow tree in which little Mrs. Oriole had her nest, fastened like an old stocking to one of the drooping branches.

And if I stop a minute to think, I guess I’ll remember some more friends of the little rabbit. Why, of course. There was Teddy Turtle, who carried his little shell house around with him all the time, and the little Freshwater Crab, and Mrs. Darning Needle, skimming over the water like an airship.

The little rabbit stopped under the shady willow tree and looked about him. It was a warm day and very still, for Billy Breeze had fallen asleep somewhere in the Shady Forest.

Pretty soon Granddaddy Bullfrog dozed off and Mrs. Oriole sang softly to her little ones:

“Little birds within the nest

Some day you will fly away.

Then the weeping willow tree

To the meadow grass will say;

“‘Oh, I feel so lonely now,

An empty nest hangs from my bough.

Must I wait until the Spring

To hear the little birdies sing?’”

And wasn’t Little Jack Rabbit surprised to hear the Willow Tree finish the song.

“Do you remember how you once hid me with your drooping branches from Danny Fox?” he asked.

And the kind willow tree answered softly: “Yes, Little Jack Rabbit.”

TWO OLD RASCALS

Danny Fox was having a very hard time of it. You see, the ground was all covered with snow and wherever he went he left his footprints. And these telltale footprints showed just where he had been. And this was just what he didn’t want people to know.

No, siree, he didn’t want the Kind Farmer to find his footprints in the Old Barn Yard. That would be a dreadful giveaway. It would certainly show that Danny Fox had been after a nice fat hen, and Danny Fox didn’t want anybody, least of all the Kind Farmer, to know that.

Yes, sir, Danny Fox was having a hard time. The door of the Henhouse was so tightly closed at night that he couldn’t push it open, and the ground frozen so hard that he couldn’t dig underneath it. Now what was Danny Fox to do?

Every night when he came home Slyboots and Bushytail would say, “What have you brought to eat, daddy dear?”

And Mrs. Fox would say: “There is nothing in the cupboard; nothing at all!”

All this would make Danny Fox feel very badly. But feeling sorry doesn’t keep one from feeling hungry. So he would answer, “I thought perhaps you might have had better luck, but as the cupboard is empty, I’ll go out and try again.”

One night as he was prowling around the Big Red Barn he came to a hole. It wasn’t a very big hole. It was just large enough for him to push in his long thin nose and see what was going on.

There sat Mr. Longtooth Rat eating his supper of corn.

“Good evening,” said Danny Fox.

“Won’t you come in?” said Mr. Longtooth Rat with a grin.

“Bah!” retorted Danny Fox with a snarl, “don’t talk nonsense.” He knew Mr. Longtooth Rat was making fun of him, for how could he squeeze through a hole that was only just large enough for his head?

“Don’t lose your temper,” said Mr. Longtooth Rat. “I might do you a favor.”

“What kind of a favor?” asked Danny Fox suspiciously.

“Come around tomorrow night,” answered the old rat. “By that time I’ll be able to gnaw off the wooden latch on the Henhouse door.”

“All right,” replied Danny Fox, “I’ll be back tomorrow night,” and he trotted off to his den among the rocks.

Sometimes the very best of plans

Go wrong, and we get cross

To find that we must start anew,

And often at a loss.

FOOTPRINTS

As soon as Mr. Longtooth Rat had finished his supper he went over to the Henhouse. You see, he was going to keep his promise to Danny Fox to gnaw off the wooden latch.

Mr. Longtooth Rat was not a very nice sort of a person, although he was going to do a favor for Danny Fox. The truth of the matter is that Mr. Longtooth Rat was very willing to have Danny Fox steal the chickens, for then more corn would be left for Mrs. Rat and himself. So you see he wasn’t really doing Danny Fox a favor at all.

But when Mr. Longtooth Rat reached the Henhouse, to his surprise he found that instead of the old wooden latch there was a bright new iron one on the door.

“Who could have put it there?” he asked himself. “I don’t understand it at all. It wasn’t on yesterday.”

There was nothing to do about it, so Mr. Longtooth Rat went back to the barn. Perhaps he might think of a way to get into the Henhouse before Danny Fox came the next evening.

Of course, Henny Penny and Cocky Doodle knew nothing of all this. Oh, my, no! If they had they would have been dreadfully worried. But the next morning while standing in the sun close to the High Haystack the Kind Farmer gave a loud whistle.

“Whew! There’s been a fox around here. Look at his footprints!”

“Dear me,” clucked little Henny Penny.

“We must all be careful,” crowed Cocky Doodle.

Just then the Farmer’s Wife came out of the kitchen door.

“Sure enough,” she said, walking around to the rear of the Big Red Barn where Danny Fox had been the night before.

“He tried to get in there,” said the Farmer, pointing to the hole in the boards which led to Mr. Longtooth’s house. “I guess I’ll nail a board over it,” and he went over to the Toolhouse for a hammer and nails.

“I wish Danny Fox had stayed away,” said Mr. Longtooth Rat when he heard what the Farmer meant to do. “I won’t have any front door in a few minutes just on account of that thieving old fox.”

Then Mr. Longtooth Rat scowled and grumbled some more, forgetting what a thief he was and how willing he had been to open the Henhouse door for Danny Fox.

Yes, sir! When people are willing to help others steal it is because they are stealing things for themselves.

It is a sin to steal a pin,

A chicken or a goose.

So keep that fox home in his box.

Oh, pray, don’t let him loose.

THE TRAP

That evening Mrs. Fox said to Danny Fox as he started off for the Old Farm Yard:

“Be sure, my dear, to bring home a chicken.”

“Bring back two,” cried Bushytail and Slyboots, as their father trotted away in the bright moonlight.

It was very still and quiet; only the rustle of the dry leaves on the trees broke the stillness as the old fox ran swiftly down the hillside over to the Shady Forest. At last he came to the Old Farm Yard. Stealing around to the rear of the Big Red Barn, he looked up and down, from one side to the other, but where was Mr. Longtooth Rat’s front door?

“Can I have made a mistake?” said Danny Fox, creeping around the corner. But there was no hole there, either. Danny Fox was puzzled. Yes, indeed, he certainly was puzzled. It was only last night that he had been here, and now, where was the entrance to Mr. Rat’s house?

He was just about to leave when he heard Mr. Longtooth Rat’s voice. It came from the other side of the wall.

“Yes, my dear,” Mr. Longtooth Rat was saying to his wife, “we have lost our front door, and all on account of that old thieving Danny Fox.”

“Be careful what you say about me,” snarled Danny Fox, pressing his nose close to the boards.

“Be careful of what, you old red robber?” squeaked Mr. Longtooth Rat. “You’d better be careful!”

Goodness me! No sooner had he spoken than something snapped under Danny Fox’s foot. Danny Fox was caught. Yes, sir, his foot was caught in a trap. Pull as hard as he could, he couldn’t get it out.

What would Mrs. Fox think when he didn’t come home? What would Bushytail and Slyboots say when there was no Daddy Fox at breakfast?

He pulled and tugged. But, oh dear me. He couldn’t get his foot out. Slowly the night passed, and Cocky Doodle sang his early morning “Cock-a-doodle-do.”

Betsy the Old Gray Mare whinnied in her stall and Cocky Doodle sang over again his “cock-a-doodle-do.” Mr. Merry Sun got out of bed and began to climb up the sky. It grew lighter and pretty soon Henny Penny cackled over her new-laid egg.

Danny Fox gave another tug. Then he looked carefully at the trap. In the dim light he made out a rope fastened to the barn. The next moment Danny Fox was gnawing that rope as fast as he could. At last it broke and he hobbled away, holding up his right forepaw, which was still fast in the iron jaws of the trap.

HOME AGAIN

It took him a long time to reach home. You see, he had only three legs to walk on. His foot hurt him dreadfully, and his leg grew tired holding up the heavy trap. At last, when he came to his den, he was ready to drop.

Now, as soon as Mrs. Fox had looked the trap over carefully, she knew she never could force apart the strong iron jaws that held Danny Fox’s poor foot, but she did think there might be some other way.

The trap was very old and the spring rusty, and the more Mrs. Fox looked at it the more hopeful she became.

“Bring me a stone, Slyboots,” she cried. Carefully placing part of the trap on the front doorstep, she hit the old spring several hard blows. Crack! it went, and the trap fell apart. Danny Fox pulled out his foot without any trouble at all.

“There, you’re free,” said Mrs. Fox, laying down the stone. “I hope next time you’ll be more careful where you put your feet.”

Danny Fox didn’t reply. He was too busy rubbing his sore ankle, while the two little foxes hugged him, delighted at seeing him out of danger.

Presently Mrs. Fox found some salve to rub on his foot. She felt sorry for Daddy, you may be sure. It was only in kindness she had said she hoped he would be more careful next time where he put his feet.

“But what have we got to eat?” sighed poor tired Danny Fox.

“You were gone so long, Daddy,” answered Mrs. Fox, with a laugh, “that I went out on a little hunt all by myself. Wait, and I’ll show you what I brought home.”

In a minute she came back from the kitchen with a plump young chicken. “This is what I found,” she said. “It was a naughty chicken to roost in a tree instead of going to bed in the Henhouse. But it’s lucky for us.”

“Where did you go?” asked Danny Fox, curiously.

“Back of the Old Mill,” answered Mrs. Fox. “I think it’s one of the chickens belonging to the Miller’s Boy. He takes very poor care of them. Perhaps we may be able to get another.”

In a little while supper was ready and the Fox family sat down to the table, happy and contented now that Daddy Fox was home safe and sound.

TEDDY TURTLE

A turtle goes much slower

Than an old sea-going hack.

He never has to hurry home

For his house is on his back,

sang Bobbie Redvest as Little Jack Rabbit hopped down the Old Cow Path in the Sunny Meadow.

“I wonder what I’ll do to-day?” the little bunny asked himself, when all of a sudden, along came Teddy Turtle with his little shell bungalow on his back, for Teddy Turtle always carries it with him, rain or shine, anywhere and everywhere. Yes, sir, that little turtle is very lucky; he never is forced to move out on the first of May, nor is there any unkind landlord to bother him.

“Where are you going?” asked the little rabbit.

“Down to the Old Duck Pond. Come along. We’ll make a call on Granddaddy Bullfrog.”

“Very well,” answered the little rabbit, “I’ve nothing to do this morning. I’ll come along.”

Then off they started, Teddy Turtle crawling slowly down the path, and Little Jack Rabbit hopping along, now and then sitting down to wait for the little turtle to catch up to him. By and by, Little Jack Rabbit said:

“Don’t you ever get tired carrying your house about with you? You’re just like a moving van.”

“Oh, I’m used to it,” answered Teddy Turtle. “When I go out in the morning I don’t have to worry about getting back to the house by supper time.”

“Ha, ha!” laughed the little rabbit. “Your head sticks out of the front door and your tail through the kitchen door!”

But, Oh dear me. He was so taken up with the little turtle that he didn’t notice a big, black shadow on the path. But Teddy Turtle did. Oh, my yes!

“Look out!” he shouted, “here comes Hungry Hawk!” And he pulled his head in through the front door and his tail in through the back door, and all you could see was a little shell house on the meadow grass.

Little Jack Rabbit Meets Teddie Turtle.

Page 48

Little Jack Rabbit and Danny Fox.

And the little rabbit? He hopped into a hollow stump so quickly that Hungry Hawk had to knock three times before Teddy Turtle dared to squint out of his little shell house.

Pretty soon Hungry Hawk rapped again on the old hollow stump.

Rat-a-tat-tat! went Hungry Hawk

On the door of the Hollow Stump.

The Bunny Boy’s heart beat pitter pat,

And his knees went bumpity, bump!

HUNGRY HAWK

“I didn’t mean any harm. I just flew down from the blue sky to say ‘Howdy!’” said Hungry Hawk in a low voice.

Little Jack Rabbit was too out of breath to speak. And, anyway, he was too busy thinking how he was ever to get out, for there stood that old robber bird close by, ready to pounce on him at any moment.

“I don’t believe you,” at last answered the little rabbit. “And I’m not coming out while you’re around.”

Hungry Hawk made no reply, but sat down and preened his feathers. By and by who should come along but Danny Fox.

“Hello, Hungry Hawk, what are you doing?”

“Howdy, Danny Fox, what are you doing?” replied the old bird.

“Oh, just taking a walk,” answered Danny Fox, squinting into the opening in the old hollow tree. “I don’t see anything, but I smell rabbit.”

“Well, that’s as far as you’ll get,” answered Hungry Hawk. “I’m going to pull that little rabbit out of that tree and eat him, and I’m not inviting anybody to dine with me, either.”

Now this made Danny Fox very angry, but he only grinned and said: “You’ll never get him out unless I help you.”

“How’s that?” inquired Hungry Hawk.

“Because,” answered Danny Fox, with a bigger grin than ever, “I’ll eat Hawk first and Rabbit after,” and he made a jump for the old bird, catching him by the tail.

My goodness, how the fur and feathers flew! Yes, siree! It certainly was some fight.

At first Danny Fox was on top. Pretty soon Hungry Hawk squirmed away and dug his sharp claws into Danny Fox’s fur overcoat. But Danny Fox never let go of the old hawk’s tail.

After a while Hungry Hawk said: “Suppose we stop and talk it over.” So they let go of each other and sat down. Hungry Hawk was pretty well mussed up and Danny Fox’s hair looked as if it had been combed the wrong way.

“I’ll help you get the little rabbit if you’ll let me help you eat him,” said Danny Fox.

“All right,” agreed the old hawk, “but how shall we get him out of the tree?”

“I’m going to smoke him out,” answered Danny Fox. “You wait here while I run home and get my pipe. I’ll puff tobacco smoke into that hollow tree until that little rabbit either hops out or chokes to death.”

THE ESCAPE

“Hurry up,” said Hungry Hawk. “I’ll keep watch while you’re gone.”

“Well, there goes one old robber,” thought the little rabbit. “Now, if I could only get rid of the other,” and he wiggled his pink nose and scratched his ear; pretty soon he thought of a way.

“Mr. Hawk, if you and Danny Fox will let me go, I’ll tell you something.” (You see, the little rabbit was pretending he didn’t know that the old fox had gone after the pipe.)

“What is it?” asked Hungry Hawk.

“There’s a nice fat squirrel in this tree,” answered the little rabbit. “I’ll drive him out of the back door if you’ll promise to let me go.”

“All right,” replied Hungry Hawk; “but wait a minute till I talk it over with Danny Fox,” and he made believe he was whispering to that old robber.

“Drive out the squirrel; we’ll let you go,” said Hungry Hawk.

Then Little Jack Rabbit made enough racket to drive out an elephant. “I’ve pushed him half through the back door,” he shouted, “but I can’t shove him any farther. Come around and pull him out.”

Hungry Hawk ran around to the back of the tree. Quicker than a wink Little Jack Rabbit hopped through the front door, over the Sunny Meadow, lipperty-clip, clipperty-lip, straight for the Old Bramble Patch.

And maybe Danny Fox wasn’t angry when he got back to the hollow tree with his big corncob pipe and tobacco pouch!

“You silly old bird, to let a little rabbit fool you,” he cried when Hungry Hawk told him what had happened.

Then he lighted his pipe and sat down to have a smoke.

“Next time I’ll do my rabbit hunting alone,” he growled.

“And so will I,” said Hungry Hawk, spreading his wings and flying away.