her people in danger or make
them uncomfortable can have no excuse. My neck might have been broken in
that wild ride down the hill, and certainly I was made most
uncomfortable. I felt as if everything inside me was shaken out of place
and all mixed up. Even now my stomach feels a bit queer, as if it might
not be just where it ought to be. By the way, what became of Peter after
he jumped over the barrel?"

Sammy shook his head. "I don't know," he confessed. "You see, it was
very exciting when that barrel started rolling, and we knew by the
sounds that there was some one inside it. I guess Reddy Fox forgot all
about Peter. I know I did. And when the barrel broke to pieces against
that stone down there, and you and Reddy faced each other, it was still
more exciting. After it was over, I looked for Peter, but he was nowhere
in sight. He hadn't had time to reach the Old Briar-patch. I really
would like to know myself what became of him."

Jimmy Skunk turned and looked down the hill. Then in his usual slow way
he started back towards the broken barrel.

"Where are you going?" asked Sammy.

"To look for Peter Rabbit," replied Jimmy. "I want to ask him a few
questions."

Jimmy Skunk ambled along down the hill. At first he was very angry as he
thought of what Peter had done, and he made up his mind that Peter
should be taught a lesson he would never forget. But as he ambled along,
the funny side of the whole affair struck him, for Jimmy Skunk has a
great sense of humor, and before he reached the bottom of the hill his
anger had all gone and he was chuckling.

"I'm sorry if I did Reddy Fox an injustice," thought he, "but he makes
so much trouble for other people that I guess no one else will be sorry.
He isn't likely to bother any one for some time. Peter really ought to
be punished, but somehow I don't feel so much like punishing him as I
did. I'll just give him a little scare and let the scamp off with that.
Now, I wonder where he can be. I have an idea he isn't very far away.
Let me see. Seems to me I remember an old house of Johnny Chuck's not
very far from here. I'll have a look in that."

[Illustration]

IX

JIMMY VISITS JOHNNY CHUCK'S OLD HOUSE

Jimmy Skunk was smiling as he ambled towards the old house of Johnny
Chuck near the foot of the hill. There was no one near to see him, and
this made him smile still more. You see, the odor of that perfume which
he had thrown at Reddy Fox just a little while be