Part 2 (1/2)

Then he recovered his spirit ”I will baulk hi, and his white fur bristling with excitement

”How can I help you?” asked the Owl ”I will endeavor to keep awake as long as I am wanted”

”Wait a htfully on his drum ”I think I have arrived at a conclusion,” he said presently ”I will meet their dastardly plot by a counter-plot I do not expect the Mouse back for another half-hour; he toldaway our recent earnings This will just give us time to do what I wish

”Here is _uo to the sentry-box, at the back of which you will take up your position I will tell the Sentry you have been telling me a most comical little dream you have had--the one, indeed, you told ood stories, and will certainly hurry off to hear it

”Whilst he is away I will spread the bottoum

When, on his return, he steps into the box, I shall keep hi hiold piece that he will not stand perfectly o home and back

He is very fond of a bet, and is sure to accept it Leaving you to see that he acts fairly, I shall go andhere for the perforested

”That, however, I shall cut short, having no desire to waste my talent on a villain like the Sentry I shall turn aith the Mouse, who, on giving the signal agreed upon, will, to his amazement, find that it is followed by no result For by that tihtly to the floor of his sentry-box that he will not be able to ht of their confusion I shall punish the off the head of the Mouse--for whose deceit no punish the Sentry about the head until he can't see out of his eyes Nor shall the Horse escape eance I shall creep into his stall, and suddenly, and with a precise aiold at the pupils of his wicked eyes Thus he will be totally blinded by the gold he has wrongfully helped to keep A most fit and proper punishhtfully worked out,” said the Owl, blinking his eyes

”To business, then,” reu thither on his hind-legs to avoid any appearance of alarrave and sleepy dignity

Arrived at the sentry-box, the Owl placed hiuood-day”

”Good-day,” said the Sentry ”What are you grinning at?” For the Rabbit was s of much consequence,” he replied ”Merely a most comical little dream that the Oho happens for a wonder to be awake--has been telling hter”

”Pass it on,” said the Sentry

”I shouldn't think of doing that,” replied the Rabbit ”I don't approve of telling people's own particular little stories; they prefer the fun of relating theo round for a et hiain It is an occasion to seize, for he is hardly ever ahen other people are, and he tells a story better than anyone else I know”

”Well, I rather think I will,” answered the Sentry ”I'ood story You take ood fellow

Here, put down your druood,” answered the Rabbit, and the Sentry hurried off

The moment he had turned the corner the Rabbit set to work and spread gu outside, he took up the bayonet andthe tell-tale bottle behind a box of bricks By and by the Sentry returned

”Well, it was not a very good story after all,” he said rudely ”Thank you for nothing Why aren't you in the sentry-box? I a your word”

”I should not have been able to move about sufficiently,” the Rabbit answered ”I should have suffered from cramp”

”Stuff and nonsense!” the Sentry replied ”I stand in it for hours at a ti?” asked the Rabbit, with an air of disbelief

”Without stirring an eighth of an inch,” the Sentry said

”I don't believe it,” replied the Rabbit ”I challenge you to keep perfectly still for any length of tiold piece you won't stand ain”