a tree, in the
top of which Prickly Porky the Porcupine was eating his breakfast, sat
old Mr. Toad, nodding sleepily. Sammy Jay saw him there but, smart as
Sammy is, he didn't once suspect innocent-looking old Mr. Toad. You
see, he didn't know that old Mr. Toad had overheard all of his plans.

IX

MR. TOAD AND PRICKLY PORKY PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER

Slowly Prickly Porky the Porcupine climbed down from the top of the
tall poplar tree where he had been getting his breakfast of tender
young bark. He grunted as he worked his way down, for he had with him
a bundle of bark to take over to Peter Rabbit's surprise party. When
he reached the ground, Prickly Porky shook himself until he rattled
the thousand little spears hidden in his long coat.

"Tee-hee-hee!"

"Who dares to laugh at me?" demanded Pricky Porky, shaking himself
until all the little spears rattled again, and some of them began to
peep out of his long coat.

"No one is laughing at you," replied a voice right behind him.

Prickly Porky turned around. There sat old Mr. Toad. His big mouth was
stretched wide open, and he was laughing all to himself. Something was
tickling old Mr. Toad mightily.

Prickly Porky scowled, and a few more little spears peeped out of his
long coat. You know no one likes to be laughed at, and it certainly
did look as if old Mr. Toad was laughing at him.

Mr. Toad stopped laughing and hopped a step nearer. "It's a joke,"
said he, and slowly winked one eye.

"I don't see any joke," said Prickly Porky, and his voice was very
fretful.

Mr. Toad hopped a step nearer. "Are you going to Peter Rabbit's
party?"

"Of course I am. What a foolish question," replied Prickly Porky.

"To be sure, a very foolish question, a very foolish question,
indeed," assented Mr. Toad. "Do you know that Sammy Jay and Blacky the
Crow and Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel, who have not been invited,
are planning to break up the party and then gobble up all the good
things to eat?" he continued.

Prickly Porky laid down his bundle of tender young bark and stared at
old Mr. Toad, "How do you know?" he demanded.

Old Mr. Toad chuckled deep down in his throat. "I was underneath a
piece of bark on which Sammy Jay was sitting when the plan was made.
Of course he didn't know I was there, and of course I didn't tell
him."

"Of course not," interrupted Prickly Porky, beginning to grin.

"Of course not," continued Mr. Toad, grinning, too. Then he told