twisted in such an ungentlemanly
manner, I'd be as good as new. The wood folk can talk about never
catching a weasel asleep; but I tell you it's a pretty cold day when
any of the people from the farm can get the best of Brother Coon,
unless they shoot him down before he's had a chance to show them some
of his tricks.'

"Then Bobby chuckled and grinned as if he had done something
wonderfully smart, and I'm not saying that he didn't; but I wanted him
to know that if it hadn't been for my chucking Grandfather Fox into
the trap he might not have come off so easy, and began to tell the
story, beginning at the very first so's he'd know that some folks in
the big woods were just as smart as the Coon family.

"I hadn't got into the thrilling part of it when suddenly I heard the
sound of somebody's coming through the bushes, and before I could
open my mouth to yell, who should show himself but that miserable dog
Towser! Frightened! I was so scared that for five seconds I never
raised a paw, and then, just as Bobby was ambling away at the best
speed he could make, I came to myself.

"Oh me! oh my! how I did run! Instead of following Bobby, as I hoped
Towser would, although I never had any grudge against a coon, what
should that beast of a dog do but take after me, and I was so mixed up
that I didn't know which way to turn; but kept my nose pointed in the
same direction it was when I started."

Bunny ceased speaking very suddenly, sitting there motionless, gazing
at the ferns which were being swayed to and fro by the gentle breeze,
and it seemed best to wait until he was in the mood to continue, for
it was only natural that his thoughts should be unpleasant as he
contemplated the treachery of Towser in thus taking by surprise
himself and Bobby Coon.

CHAPTER XI

TOWSER AND THE SENATOR

Mr. Bunny seemed to have forgotten that he was telling a story, and
continued to gaze at the waving ferns as if his thoughts were very far
away, until it appeared absolutely necessary to ask whether Mr. Towser
succeeded in making very great trouble for him.

"Oh, it didn't amount to anything much," he said with a chuckle as of
satisfaction, pulling himself up with a start such as he might have
given at the moment he made the unpleasant discovery that Mr. Towser
was on his track. "Of course it wasn't very great fun for me to run
for my life at a time when I was scared nearly to death; but before
the thing was ended I had a heap of