84 Rciggy'tug 



ures thixt "■limbed trees, or had horns, or hoofs, or hng 

 tails. This left the Brierbrush at peace with noTt" tut 

 Molly Cottontail, who could not climb, was hornless, hoof- 

 less and had scarcely any tail at all. 



In truth the Cottontail had never harmed a Brierrose,^ 

 and having now so many enemies the Rose took the Rab' 

 bit into especial friendship, and when dangers are threat- 

 ening poor Bunny he flies to the nearest Brierbrush, cer- 

 tain that it is ready, with a }?iillion keen and poisoned 

 daggers, to defend him. 



So the secret that Rag learned from his 

 mother was, * The Brierbrush is your best 

 friend.* 



Much of the time that season was spent in 

 learning the lay of the land, and the bramble 

 and brier mazes. And Rag learned them so 

 well that he could go all around the swamp by 

 two different ways and never leave the friendly 

 briers at any place for more than five hops. 



It is not long since the foes of the Cotton- 

 tails were disgusted to find that man had 

 brought a new kind of bramble and planted it 

 in long lines throughout the country. It was 

 so strong that no creatures could break it 

 down, and so sharp that the toughest skin was 

 torn by it. Each year there was more of it and 

 each year it became a more serious matter to 



