CHAPTER XIX 



A MAKER OF THUNDER AND A FRIEND IN BLACK 



PETER RABBIT'S intentions were of the best. 

 Once safely away from that lonesome part of the 

 Green Forest where was the home of Redtail 

 the Hawk, he intended to go straight back to the 

 dear Old Briar-patch. But he was not halfway 

 there when from another direction in the Green 

 Forest there came a sound that caused him to 

 stop short and quite forget all about home. It 

 was a sound very like distant thunder. It began 

 slowly at first and then went faster and faster. 

 Boom Boom Boom Boom-Boom-Boom 

 Boo-Boo-B-B-B-B-b-b-b-b-boom ! It was like the 

 long roll on a bass drum. 



Peter laughed right out. "That's Strutter the 

 Ruffed Grouse!" he cried joyously. "I had for- 

 gotten all about him. I certainly must go over 

 and pay him a call and find out where Mrs. Grouse 

 is. My, how Strutter can drum!" 



Peter promptly headed towards that distant 



thunder. As he drew nearer to it, it sounded 



louder and louder. Presently Peter stopped to 



try to locate exactly the place where that sound, 



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