Peter Saves a Friend and Learns Something 



one who hadn't the least idea that he was being 

 watched. It was quite clear that Chewink was 

 hungry and that under those dry leaves he was 

 finding a good meal. His feet were made for 

 scratching and he certainly knew how to use them. 

 For some time Peter sat there watching. He had 

 just about made up his mind that he would make 

 his presence known and have a bit of morning gossip 

 when, happening to look out beyond the edge of 

 the little thicket, he saw something red. It was 

 something alive, for it was moving very slowly and 

 cautiously towards the place where Chewink was 

 so busy and forgetful of everything but his break- 

 fast. Peter knew that there was only one person 

 with a coat of that color. It was Reddy Fox, and 

 quite plainly Reddy was hoping to catch Chewink. 



For a second or two Peter was quite undecided 

 what to do. He couldn't warn Chewink without 

 making his own presence known to Reddy Fox. 

 Of course he could sit perfectly still and let Chewink 

 be caught, but that was such a dreadful thought 

 that Peter didn't consider it for more than a second 

 or two. He suddenly thumped the ground with 

 his feet. It was his danger signal which all his 

 friends know. Then he turned and scampered 

 lipperty-lipperty-lip to a thick bramble-tangle not 

 far behind him. 



At the sound of that thump Chewink instantly 

 [239] 



