Worse still, he found Peter's favorite sunning-bank in the far
corner of the Old Pasture and would hide near it and try to catch Peter
every time Peter tried to get a few minutes' rest there. He did
something worse than that.
One day he saw fierce Mr. Goshawk hunting. He let Mr. Goshawk almost
catch him. and then ducked under a bramble-bush. Then he showed himself
again and once more escaped in the same way. So he led fierce Mr.
Goshawk to a point where Mr. Goshawk could look down and see Peter
Rabbit stretched out on his sunning-bank, trying to get a little rest.
Right; away Mr. Goshawk forgot all about Old Jed Thumper and sailed up
in the sky from where he could swoop down on Peter, while Old Jed
Thumper, chuckling to himself wickedly, hid where he could watch what
would happen.
That certainly would have been the last of Peter Rabbit if it hadn't
been for Tommy Tit the Chickadee. Tommy saw Mr. Goshawk and just in time
warned Peter, and so Mr. Goshawk got only his claws full of soft earth
for his pains, while Old Jed Thumper once more chewed on nothing in rage
and disappointment. Dear me, dear me, those certainly were dreadful days
for Peter Rabbit and little Miss Fuzzytail. You see, all the time little
Miss Fuzzytail was terribly worried for fear Peter would be caught.
[Illustration with caption: THAT NIGHT OLD MAN COYOTE STARTED FOR THE
OLD PASTURE.]
CHAPTER XIX
OLD MAN COYOTE PAYS A DEBT
Some little seeds of goodness
You'll find in every heart,
To sprout and keep on growing
When once they get a start.
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