Part 5 (1/2)

Then Mr. Turtle crossed the line.

”You've won!” Tommy exclaimed. And he was so pleased that he gave Mr.

Turtle a good, hard slap on the back. ”Ouch!” Tommy said. There was a look of pain on his face. He had forgotten that Mr. Turtle had such a hard back.

”Who's won?” one of the Rabbit brothers asked.

”Why, Mr. Turtle!” said Tommy Fox.

”That,” said the Rabbit boy, ”that is just where you are mistaken, sir.

Jimmy Rabbit has won the race--for _I_ am Jimmy Rabbit.”

For a moment there was silence. And then a great shout went up. For they all saw that it was Jimmy Rabbit himself, dressed like one of his brothers.

But Tommy Fox did not shout at all. He was very angry. ”There's been some trick played on us,” he said.

”Where's my sled, Mr. Turtle?” Jimmy Rabbit asked. He turned around. But Mr. Turtle had vanished. He had jumped into the brook and swum away.

So Jimmy Rabbit did not get the sled after all. But he was so pleased over the way he had outwitted Tommy Fox that he didn't care very much.

And all his friends said that he was not only a fast runner, but a very clever fellow as well.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 9 Playing Leap-Frog]

9

Playing Leap-Frog

There was great joy in the woods. Jimmy Rabbit had promised to teach his friends a new game. Frisky Squirrel and Billy Woodchuck, Fatty c.o.o.n and Tommy Fox, were all on hand to have their share of the fun.

”What's the game called?” Frisky Squirrel asked.

”It's leap-frog,” Jimmy told him.

”Shucks!” said Fatty c.o.o.n. ”The frog's not here yet. And we can't do anything till _he_ comes.”

Jimmy Rabbit laughed.

”You don't need a frog to play leap-frog,” he said. ”Just squat down in front of me and I'll show you how it's done.”

Frisky Squirrel did just as Jimmy told him to do. And Jimmy ran up behind him, put his front paws on Frisky's back, and leaped over him.

Then he ran on a little way. And when he stopped, he crouched down and called to Fatty c.o.o.n to jump over them both.

Soon they were all playing leap-frog, though Tommy Fox said that he didn't think it was much of a game.

”There's more to it than you think,” Jimmy said. ”I haven't taught you the whole game yet.”

”Well, I want to learn it all,” Tommy Fox grumbled.