Longbill and Teeter 



bobbing and bowing. "If you had taken another 

 step, Peter Rabbit, you would have stepped 

 right on our eggs. You gave me a dreadful 

 start." 



Peter was puzzled. He showed it as he stared 

 down at Mrs. Teeter just in front of him. "I 

 don't see any nest or eggs or anything," said he 

 rather testily. 



Mrs. Teeter stood up and stepped aside. Then 

 Peter saw right in a little hollow in the sand, with 

 just a few bits of grass for a lining, four white 

 eggs with big dark blotches on them. They looked 

 so much like the surrounding pebbles that he never 

 would have seen them in the world but for Mrs. 

 Teeter. Peter hastily backed away a few steps. 

 Mrs. Teeter slipped back on the eggs and settled 

 herself comfortably. It suddenly struck Peter 

 that if he hadn't seen her do it, he wouldn't have 

 known she was there. You see she looked so 

 much like her surroundings that he never would 

 have noticed her at all. 



"My!" he exclaimed. " I certainly would have 

 stepped on those eggs if you hadn't warned me," 

 said he. "I'm so thankful I didn't. I don't 

 see how you dare lay them in the open like 

 this." 



Mrs. Teeter chuckled softly. "It's the safest 

 place in the world, Peter," said she. "They look 

 [67] 



