Part 4 (2/2)

After Sticky-toes the Tree Toad had poured out his troubles, Peter went back to the Old Briar-patch, more puzzled than ever If Sae of the mountain, how could he be at the sa? And if Sticky-toes the Tree Toad sat all night with his ht, how could the voice of Sticky-toes be heard in an altogether different tree than the one Sticky-toes was spending the night in? Wasn't it enough to drive any one crazy?

The rew The next night he started out for the Green Forest with a new plan in his head He would hide down a Brook He would see for hi with the voice of Sa with the voice of Sticky-toes the Tree Toad He just had to know!

So across the Green Meadows and up the Lone Little Path hurried Peter Rabbit, so as to reach the Laughing Brook before jolly, round, red Mr Sun had wholly turned out his light, after going to bed behind the Purple Hills He was hurrying so that he almost ran into Unc' Billy Possum

”Yo' seem to be in a powerful hurry, Brer Rabbit,” said Unc' Billy

”I a Brook before dark”

”'Pears to hty impo'tant to make yo' hurry this way,” said Unc' Billy Possum

”It is,” replied Peter Rabbit ”It's to keepcrazy”

Unc' Billy looked at Peter very hard for a few ht that Peter was crazy already Then he put a hand behind one ear just as if he was hard of hearing ”Ah beg yo' pardon, Brer Rabbit, but Ah don' see down to the Laughing Brook for,” said Unc' Billy in the politest way

Peter chuckled in spite of hioing crazy”

Then Peter told Unc' Billy all about Sammy Jay's troubles and all about the troubles of Sticky-toes the Tree Toad It was the first Unc' Billy Possum had heard about it, for Unc' Billy had been away from the Green Forest and the Green Meadows for a visit and had just returned He listened to all that Peter Rabbit had to say, and a funny, pleased sort of look ca with yo'all,” said he

So Unc' Billy Possu Brook, where they hid underneath the alders

XV

PETER RABBIT AND UNC' BILLY POSSUM KEEP WATCH

”Now,” said Peter Rabbit, as they settled themselves to watch, ”we'll see for ourselves whether Sa the truth, or if they have been drea If we hear Saht to be able to see who is using it, for pretty soon the moon will be up, and then we can see easily”

Unc' Billy Possu, not a word, but if Peter Rabbit had noticed Unc' Billy's eyes, he would have seen a very knowing look there

The fact is, Unc' Billy was thinking of the tiht he had heard the voice of an old friend of his fro to suspect that he had been right, and that his old friend really was somewhere in the Green Forest

”Ah reckon he sho'ly is, and he's plumb full of his ol' tricks, just like he used to be,” muttered Unc' Billy

”What's that?” asked Peter, pricking up his ears

”Nothing, nothing, Brer Rabbit, nothing at all Ah has a habit of just talking foolishness to mahself,” replied Unc' Billy

Peter looked at him sharply, but Unc' Billy's shrewd little face looked so innocent that Peter was ashauess that we better not talk any ht be heard and have our watch for nothing,” said Peter