nce upon a time Mr. Jack Rabbit got up very early and set out for a
morning walk. It was bright and sunny, and Mr. Rabbit was feeling so
well that he walked and walked. Every little ways he stopped and talked
to the Robins and Bluebirds that were up early, too, until by and by he
didn't know how far away from home he really was.

"Did he know the way?" asked the Little Lady.

[Illustration: A LOUD BARK RIGHT BEHIND HIM.]

Oh, yes, he knew the way, because you can't lose Mr. Jack Rabbit, no
matter what you do, but talking along and not thinking, he had forgotten
about its being so far. He was just going to turn back, though, when all
of a sudden there was a great loud bark right behind him that made him
jump right straight up in the air and commence running before his feet
touched the ground.

He didn't stop to ask any questions. He knew that Mr. Dog was out early,
too, and that he'd found his tracks and was a-coming lickety split.

"What does that mean--lickety split?"

I don't know, exactly, but Mr. Dog always runs that way when he chases
Jack Rabbit, and Mr. Rabbit knew he had no time to waste.

He ran faster than Mr. Dog at first, and got far enough ahead so that
when directly he saw Mr. Robin on a limb he slacked up a little minute
and said:--

"Mr. Dog's coming to call, and I'm going home to get my house ready."

Then pretty soon he saw Mr. Bluebird, but he didn't have time to pause
again.

"Where are you going so fast, Mr. Rabbit?" said the Bluebird.

"To get ready for Mr. Dog; he's coming to call," said the Rabbit as he
went by like a streak. Then a little further on he met Mr. Turtle.

"Hi, there!" called the Turtle. "Where are you going so fast, Mr.
Rabbit?"

"Dog coming--clean house!" shouted Jack Rabbit, 'most out of breath.

That made the Turtle laugh, 'cause Mr. Turtle is old and smart and he
knew why the Rabbit was running so fast.

"Was the Rabbit so afraid of Mr. Dog?" asked the Little Lady.

He was that, but he didn't want anybody to know it if he could help it,
and 'specially Mr. Dog.

Well, pretty soon Mr. Dog came by where Mr. Robin was, and he called
up:--

"Hello, Mr. Robin! Has Mr. Jack Rabbit passed this way?"

"Why, yes, Mr. Dog, and he stopped a little minute to say that you were
coming to see him, and that he had to hurry home to have his house
ready."

That kind of surprised Mr. Dog, 'cause he thought the Rabbit was afraid
of him, but he kept right on till he came to