Who was it? Why, it was a great big old
Rabbit with a very short temper, who, because he had lived there for a
long time, felt that he owned the Old Pasture and that Peter had no
right there.
Now, In spite of all his trouble, Peter had seen enough of the Old
Pasture to think it a very wonderful place, a very wonderful place
indeed. He had seen just enough to want to see more. You know how very
curious Peter is. It seemed to him that he just couldn't go back to the
dear Old Briar-patch on the Green Meadows until he had seen everything
to be seen in the Old Pasture. So he couldn't make up his mind to go
back home, but stayed and stayed, hoping each day that the old gray
Rabbit would get tired of hunting for him, and would let him alone.
But the old gray Rabbit didn't do anything of the kind. He seemed to
take the greatest delight in waiting until Peter thought that he had
found a corner of the Old Pasture where he would be safe, and then in
stealing there when Peter was trying to take a nap, and driving him out.
Twice Peter had tried to fight, but the old gray Rabbit was too big for
him. He knocked all the wind out of poor Peter with a kick from his big
hind legs, and then with his sharp teeth he tore Peter's coat.
Poor Peter! His coat had already been badly torn by the cruel claws of
Hooty the Owl, and Old Mother Nature hadn't had time to mend it when he
fought with the old gray Rabbit. After the second time Peter didn't try
to fight again. He just tried to keep out of the way.
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