began to dig away the sand where
Old Mr. Toad had been sitting. In a minute he felt Old Mr. Toad, who at
once came out again.

Old Mr. Toad's beautiful eyes twinkled more than ever. "I guess we are even
now, Peter," said he.

Peter nodded. "More than that, Mr. Toad. I think you have a little the best
of it," he replied. "Now won't you tell me how you did it?"

Old Mr. Toad held up one of his stout hind feet, and on it was a kind of
spur. "There's another just like that on the other foot," said he, "and I
use them to dig with. You go into a hole headfirst, but I go in the other
way. I make my hole in soft earth and back into it at the same time, this
way." He began to work his stout hind feet, and as he kicked the earth out,
he backed in at the same time. When he was deep enough, the earth just fell
back over him, for you see it was very loose and not packed down at all.
When he once more reappeared, Peter thanked him. Then he asked one more
question.

"Is that the way you go into winter quarters?"

Old Mr. Toad nodded. "And it's the way I escape from my enemies."

XVI

JIMMY SKUNK IS SURPRISED

Jimmy Skunk ambled along the Crooked Little Path down the hill. He didn't
hurry because Jimmy doesn't believe in hurrying. The only time he ever
hurries is when he sees a fat beetle trying to get out of sight. Then Jimmy
_does_ hurry. But just now he didn't see any fat beetles, although he was
looking for them. So he just ambled along as if he had all the time in the
world, as indeed he had. He was feeling very good-natured, was Jimmy Skunk.
And why shouldn't he? There was everything to make him feel good-natured.
Summer had arrived to stay. On every side he heard glad voices. Bumble the
Bee was humming a song. Best of all, Jimmy had found three beetles that
very morning, and he knew that there were more if he could find them. So
why shouldn't he feel good?

Jimmy had laughed at Peter Rabbit for being so anxious for Summer to
arrive, but he was just as glad as Peter that she had come, although he
wouldn't have said so for the world. His sharp little eyes twinkled as he
ambled along, and there wasn't much that they missed. As he walked he
talked, quite to himself of course, because there was nobody near to hear,
and this is what he was saying:

"Beetle, beetle, smooth and smug,
You are nothing but a bug.
Bugs were made for Skunks to eat,
So come out from your retreat.

"Hello! There's a nice big pie