Of course it was quite natural that Peter should want to call on all his
old friends and visit the Green Forest, the Old Orchard, the Laughing
Brook, and the Smiling Pool. Probably Mrs. Peter wouldn't have worried
very much if it hadn't been for the warning left by Danny Meadow Mouse.
Danny had said that Old Man Coyote was more to be feared than all the
Hawk family and all the Fox family together, because he was smarter and
slyer than any of them. At first Peter had looked very serious, but
after Danny had gone back to his own home Peter had laughed at Danny for
being so afraid, and he began to go farther and farther away from the
safe Old Briar-patch.
One day he had ventured as far as halfway up the Crooked Little Path. He
was thinking so hard of a surprise he was planning for little Mrs. Peter
that he forgot to watch out and almost ran into Old Man Coyote before he
saw him. There was a hungry look, such a hungry look in Old Man Coyote's
eyes as he grinned and said "Good morning" that Peter didn't even stop
to be polite. He remembered that Jimmy Skunk's old house was near, and
he reached it just one jump ahead of Old Man Coyote.
"I thought you said that we were friends," panted Peter, as he heard Mr.
Coyote sniffing at the doorway.
"So we were until I had paid my debt to you. Now that I've paid that, we
are even, and it is everybody watch out for himself," replied Old Man
Coyote. "But don't forget that I always pay my debts, Peter Rabbit."
CHAPTER XXVI
PETER RABBIT LISTENS TO MRS.
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