Читать книгу The Adventures of Peter Cottontail - Thornton W. Burgess - Страница 11

“Hello, Peter Rabbit! You’re just the fellow I am looking for; I’ve a very important message for you,” shouted Blacky.

Peter kept right on talking with Jerry Muskrat just as if he didn’t hear, although he was burning with curiosity to know what the message was.

“I say, Peter Rabbit, are you deaf?” shouted Blacky the Crow.

Jerry Muskrat looked up at Blacky and winked. “Peter Rabbit isn’t here,” said he. “This is Peter Cottontail.”

“Oh!” said Blacky. “My message is for Peter Rabbit, and it’s something he really ought to know. I’m sorry he isn’t here.” And with that, away flew Blacky the Crow, chuckling to himself.

Peter looked quite as uncomfortable as he felt, but of course he couldn’t say a word after boasting that he didn’t hear people who called him Peter Rabbit. Pretty soon along came Sammy Jay. Sammy seemed very much excited.

“Oh, Peter Rabbit, I’m so glad I’ve found you!” he cried. “I’ve some very important news for you.”

Peter had all he could do to sit still and pretend not to hear, but he did.

“This is Peter Cottontail,” said Jerry Muskrat, winking at Sammy Jay.

“Oh,” replied Sammy, “my news is for Peter Rabbit!” and off he flew, chuckling to himself.

Peter looked and felt more uncomfortable than ever. He bade Jerry Muskrat good-by and started for the dear Old Briar-patch to think things over. When he was half way there, Ol’ Mistah Buzzard came sailing down out of the sky.

“Brer Cottontail,” said he, “if yo’ see anything of Brer Rabbit, yo’ tell him that Brer Fox am hiding behind that big bunch of grass just ahead.”

Peter stopped short, and his heart gave a great leap. There, behind the clump of grass, was something red, sure enough. Peter didn’t wait to see more. He started for a hiding place he knew of in the Green Forest as fast as he could go, and behind him raced Reddy Fox. As he ran, he heard Blacky the Crow and Sammy Jay laughing, and then he knew that this was the news that they had had for him.

“I—I—guess that Peter Rabbit is a good enough name, after all,” he panted.