e bank to the top of the slippery slide and lay
down flat on his stomach. Billy Mink gave a push and away he went
down, down the slippery slide, splash into the Smiling Pool. Then Jerry
Muskrat tried it and after him Billy Mink. Then all did it over again.
Sometimes they went down the slippery slide on their backs, sometimes
flat on their stomachs, sometimes head first, sometimes feet first. Oh
such fun as they did have! Even Grandfather Frog came over and tried the
slippery slide.

Johnny Chuck, over in the Green Meadows, heard the noise and stole down
the Lone Little Path to see. Jimmy Skunk, looking for beetles up on the
hill, heard the noise and forgot that he hadn't had his breakfast. Reddy
Fox, taking a nap, woke up and hurried over to watch the fun. Last of
all came Peter Rabbit.

Little Joe Otter saw him coming. "Hello, Peter Rabbit!" he shouted.
"Come and try the slippery slide."

Now Peter Rabbit couldn't swim, but he pretended that he didn't want to.

"I've left my bathing suit at home," said Peter Rabbit.

"Never mind," said Billy Mink. "Mr. Sun will dry you off."

"And we'll help," said all the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West
Wind.

But Peter Rabbit shook his head and said, "No."

Faster and faster went Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muskrat
and old Grandfather Frog down the slippery slide into the Smiling Pool.

Peter Rabbit kept coming nearer and nearer until finally he stood right
at the top of the slippery slide. Billy Mink crept up behind him very
softly and gave him a push. Peter Rabbit's long legs flew out from under
him and down he sat with a thump on the slippery slide. "Oh," cried
Peter Rabbit, and tried to stop himself. But he couldn't do it and so
away he went down the slippery slide, splash into the Smiling Pool.

"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Billy Mink.

"Ho! ho! ho!" shouted Little Joe Otter.

"He! he! he!" laughed Jerry Muskrat and old Grandfather Frog and
Sammy Jay and Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox and Blacky the Crow and Mr.
Kingfisher, for you know Peter Rabbit was forever playing jokes on them.

Poor Peter Rabbit! The water got in his eyes and up his nose and into
his mouth and made him choke and splutter, and then he couldn't get back
on the bank, for you know Peter Rabbit couldn't swim.

When Little Joe Otter saw what a dreadful time Peter Rabbit was having
he dove into the Smiling Pool and took hold of one of Peter Rabbit's
long ears. Billy Mink swam out and to