ides of Melody.

"I heard you singing and I just had to come over to see you," cried
Peter.

"I hope you like my song," said Veery. "I love to sing just at this hour
and I love to think that other people like to hear me."

"They do," declared Peter most emphatically. "I can't imagine how
anybody could fail to like to hear you. I came 'way over here just to
sit a while and listen. Won't you sing some more for me, Veery?"

"I certainly will, Peter," replied Veery. "I wouldn't feel that I was
going to bed right if I didn't sing until dark. There is no part of the
day I love better than the evening, and the only way I can express my
happiness and my love of the Green Forest and the joy of just being back
here at home is by singing."

Veery slipped out of sight, and almost at once his bell-like notes began
to ring through the Green Forest. Peter sat right where he was, content
to just listen and feel within himself the joy of being alive and
happy in the beautiful spring season which Veery was expressing so
wonderfully. The Black Shadows grew blacker. One by one the little stars
came out and twinkled down through the tree tops. Finally from deep in
the Green Forest sounded the hunting call of Hooty the Owl. Veery's song
stopped. "Good night, Peter," he called softly.

"Good night, Veery," replied Peter and hopped back towards the Green
Meadows for a feast of sweet clover.

CHAPTER XXXII. Peter Saves a Friend and Learns Something.

Peter Rabbit sat in a thicket of young trees on the edge of the Green
Forest. It was warm and Peter was feeling lazy. He had nothing in
particular to do, and as he knew of no cooler place he had squatted
there to doze a bit and dream a bit. So far as he knew, Peter was all
alone. He hadn't seen anybody when he entered that little thicket,
and though he had listened he hadn't heard a sound to indicate that he
didn't have that thicket quite to himself. It was very quiet there, and
though when he first entered he hadn't the least intention in the world
of going to sleep, it wasn't long before he was dozing.

Now Peter is a light sleeper, as all little people who never know when
they may have to run for their lives must be. By and by he awoke with
a start, and he was very wide awake indeed. Something had wakened him,
though just what it was he couldn't say. His long ears stood straight up
as he listened with all his might for some little sound which might mean
danger. His wobbly little no