how he was going to get out without receiving several more. All at once
he had a comforting thought. He remembered that Johnny Chuck usually has
a back door. If that were the case here, he would be all right. He would
find out. Cautiously he poked his head out of the snug bedroom. There
was the long hall down which he had come. And there--yes, Sir, there was
another hall! It must be the way to the back door. Carefully Peter
crept up it.

"Funny," thought he, "that I don't see any light ahead of me."

And then he bumped his nose. Yes, Sir, Peter bumped his nose against the
end of that hall. You see, it was an old house, and like most old houses
it was rather a tumble-down affair. Anyway, the back door had been
blocked with a great stone, and the walls of the back hall had fallen
in. There was no way out there. Sadly Peter backed out to the little
bedroom. He would wait until night, and perhaps then the Yellow Jackets
would be asleep, and he could steal out the front way without getting
any more stings. Meanwhile he would try to get a nap and forget his
aches and pains.

Hardly had Peter curled up for that nap when he heard a voice. It
sounded as if it came from a long way off, but he knew just where it
came from. It came from the doorway of that old house. He knew, too,
whose voice it was. It was Jimmy Skunk's voice.

"I know where you are, Peter Rabbit," said the voice. "And I know why
you are hiding down there. I know, too, how it happened that I was
rolled down hill in that barrel. I'm just giving you a little warning,
Peter. There are a lot of very angry Yellow Jackets up here, as you will
find out if you try to come out before dark. I'm going away now, but I'm
going to come back about dark to wait for you. I may want to play a
little joke on you to pay you back for the one you played on me."

That put an end to Peter's hope of a nap. He shivered as he thought of
what might happen to him if Jimmy Skunk should catch him. What with his
aches and pains from the stings of the Yellow Jackets, and fear of
being caught by Jimmy Skunk, it was quite impossible to sleep. He was
almost ready to face those Yellow Jackets rather than wait and meet
Jimmy Skunk. Twice he started up the long hall, but turned back. He just
couldn't stand any more stings. He was miserable. Yes, Sir, he was
miserable and most uncomfortable in both body and mind.

"I wish I'd never thought of that joke," he half sobbed. "I thought it
was a great