until it seemed
as if my coat were twice as heavy as usual, and I was sore all over
from the blow; but yet I could run faster than he, and if ever a
rabbit put his best foot forward, it was I! I had never believed he
could move as quickly as he did then, and no matter how I struggled he
kept uncomfortably near my heels till just as I darted around a clump
of mullein stalks whom should I come plump upon but Mrs. Rabbit
herself.

"'Gracious me, Bunny, what a disgraceful condition you are in!' she
cried, holding up both front paws and getting ready to read me one of
her long lectures; but I swung her around by the ears as I said,
speaking queerly, I suppose, because of breathing so hard after the
long chase:

"'Don't stop here to talk if you want to save your skin! Mr. Man's boy
Tommy has nearly killed me, and he can't be far away this very minute.
Run, run for your life!'

"Sometimes Mrs. Rabbit is a very sensible animal, and on this occasion
she took my advice, running at full speed, especially when she heard
Tommy cry:

"'By Jiminy! Now I've got two rabbits! Come on, fellers, the woods are
full of 'em!'

"Of course we knew by the words that there was more than one boy out
with slings, and I was so tired that it didn't seem as if I could run
another inch! When I was knocked into the brook I somehow was turned
around, so that I was headed away from home, and we had a long, long
distance to go before there was the littlest kind of a show for
safety. It seemed as if matters were just as bad as they could be; but
it appears that they were not, for just then who should pop out of
some tall grass but my poor little Sonny Bunny, and those dreadful
boys so close behind that I could almost hear them breathe."

At this point Mr. Bunny ceased speaking, and began to chew a straw, as
if seeing in his mind's eye the picture of that wild race for life.

CHAPTER VII

CHEEKO'S CURIOSITY

Mr. Bunny remained silent a long while, and not until he was reminded
that he had broken off his story at a very exciting point did he
continue. Then it was to say:

"Even at this day I am surprised that all three of us were not
captured by that army of boys, each of whom was armed with one of
those disagreeable sling-shots, pea-shooters, or whatever you choose
to call them. I was panting from long running, and my wife so excited
as hardly to know whether she was on her feet or her ears, while poor
little Sonny Bunny was so confus