Prickly Porky all about the plan he had overheard, how Reddy Fox and
Shadow the Weasel and Blacky the Crow were to hide near Unc' Billy
Possum's hollow tree, and how Sammy Jay was to frighten away everybody
else by pretending that Bowser the Hound was coming.

"Have you told Peter Rabbit?" asked Prickly Porky.

"Not yet, but I'm going to, by and by," replied old Mr. Toad. "But
first, I want you to help me fool Sammy Jay and Blacky the Crow and
Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel. Will you?"

"Of course I will if I can, but how can I?" answered Prickly Porky
promptly.

Old Mr. Toad hopped up, and stretching up on tiptoe, whispered in one
of Prickly Porky's ears. Prickly Porky began to smile. Then he began
to chuckle. Finally he laughed until he had to hold his sides.

"Will you do it?" asked Mr. Toad.

Prickly Porky reached for his bundle of tender young bark. "Of course
I will," said he, still chuckling. "Come on, Mr. Toad, it's time we
were going."

X

THE RUNAWAY CABBAGE

Reddy Fox, hiding with Shadow the Weasel in a hollow log near Unc'
Billy Possum's home, nudged Shadow with his elbow.

"I hear some one coming," he whispered.

Shadow peeped out. "It's old Mr. Toad and Prickly Porky," he whispered
back.

Something that sounded very much like a growl sounded way down deep in
the throat of Reddy Fox, for Reddy has no love for Prickly Porky.

"And there comes Jimmy Skunk, with a big-goose egg under each arm!"
continued Shadow, smacking his lips. Reddy Fox wriggled up where he
could peep out, too.

"My goodness! What's that coming down the Lone Little Path?" whispered
Reddy.

Shadow looked. Then he began to laugh, and Reddy began to laugh, too.
But it was laughter that made no sound, for Reddy and Shadow didn't
want any one to know that they were hiding there. It was a funny sight
they were peeping out at. It certainly was a funny sight. Down the
Lone Little Path came Peter Rabbit and his cousin, Juniper the Hare,
rolling a huge cabbage.

Right at the top of a little hill the cabbage got away from them. Down
it started, rolling and bounding along, with Peter Rabbit and Jumper
the Hare frantically trying to catch it. Just ahead was Johnny Chuck
with a big bundle of sweet clover, which he was bringing to Peter
Rabbit's party. He didn't see the big cabbage coming. It knocked his
feet from under him, and down he went with a thump, flat on his back.
Right on top of him fell Jumper the Hare, who was c