Part 2 (2/2)
”Done!” said the Sentry, and straightway stepped into his box
”This sentry-box gets slimy and dirty,” he said, without the least idea of what the Rabbit had done ”It is quite sticky with dirt It wouldn't be a bad thing if you were to clean it out for me some day”
”I'll see,” answered the other carelessly, fearing to be either too polite or too rude lest he should arouse any suspicions in the Sentry's enerally care to do other people's dirty work, but I may do that some day when I am not busy You serve your country, so you deserve a little help”
”If you don't do it willingly, you shall do it unwillingly,” he blustered ”If _I_ serve my country, _you_ must serve me”
”There's plenty of time to think it over,” answered the Rabbit ”In the meanwhile, you can't stir even to have it cleaned or you lose your bet
I'm off But wait, I must call the Owl to be a witness that you keep strictly to the ter called the Owl and stated the terms of the bet, the Rabbit went home
Here he awaited the arrival of the Mouse, who presently returned, full of pretended sympathy for the dulness of the Sentry's life
”He told me to-day,” said the little rascal, ”that the dulness of his life was killing him It struck ive him a little performance, and let him fully understand we expect noof the sort to hihted up in a way that was quite touching Suppose we go his way noe have a little spare ti to,” replied the Rabbit ”But I've just come from him, and he never coh spirits to have a bet withable to stand motionless for a certain time”
”Oh, he did that to try and kill care, no doubt,” answered the Mouse ”I know hih he is a reserved chap and opens out his heart to few Come on”
Now by the tiuet well dried, so that the Sentry was firer that he ht attempt to move, and so find out too soon the trick that had been played upon hiain he lost no tie you have won the bet But you have only justquite tired out Another five minutes or less, and you would have been unable to stand still a er”
”Double or quits!” cried the Sentry ”For another gold piece, I'll engage to keep still for the time you mention If I fail to do so, of course you don't pay reed,” said the Rabbit
”Oh, friends,” exclaiive way to this habit! It is, indeed, a sad, bad one”
This he merely said to impress the Owl (on whom he had not counted as a spectator) with a sense of his moral worth He hoped by this ht arise in the good bird's enerally rude whether he was addressing friend or foe, ”it is my own concern whether I bet or not
You had better not trouble yourself with ive in”
”Just as you will,” the Mouse said ”But I can't help taking an interest in the welfare of those ho the Rabbit: ”Dear friend,” he said ss of a Drus of the Toes?'”
”Very good,” agreed the Rabbit
And the two perforan But in a few moments the Rabbit stopped
”I cannot continue,” he said ”I as”
”Dear! What a pity!” exclaimed the Mouse ”Coht!” answered the Rabbit ”We'll go and fetch the gold pieces which Iat once?” asked the Sentry, who did not, in his greed of gold, wish to lose the chance of getting all he could
”I've nothing withhe followed the Mouse, ith his back towards the Sentry had already moved away