Peter very, very angry indeed.
She waited just a minute longer to make sure that Peter was where he
could see her, and then she thumped the ground very hard, which, you
know, is the way Rabbits signal to each other. Peter heard it right away
and thumped back that he would stay right where he was, though right
down in his heart Peter thought that little Mrs. Peter was just nervous
and foolish, for he was sure that Old Man Coyote had given up and gone
away long ago.
Now of course Old Man Coyote heard those thumps, and he knew just what
they meant. He knew that he never, never could catch Peter so long as
Mrs. Peter was watching him and ready to warn Peter, So he came out of
his hiding-place with an ugly snarl and sprang toward little Mrs. Peter
just to frighten her. He laughed as he watched her run and, all
breathless, dive into the dear, Old Briar-patch, and then he trotted
away to his favorite napping-place.
As soon as Peter was sure that he was safe he started for home, and
there little Mrs. Peter scolded him soundly for being so heedless and
thoughtless.
Peter didn't have a word to say. For a long time he sat thinking and
thinking, every once in a while scratching his head as if puzzled.
Little Mrs. Peter noticed it.
"What's the matter with you, Peter?" she asked finally.
"I'm just studying what Old Man Coyote means by telling me one day that
he is my friend, and proving it by doing me a good turn, and then trying
to catch me the very next time he sees me.
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