Evening star., 1915-12-24

afraid. or some one he isn't quite sure
he can whip, he tries to run away. II
he finds he cannot do this, then he
will fight fiercely.
But every day Peter Rabbit takes
wouldn't dare to take. 1t isn't that
Peter doesn't know. He does know.
If Shadow were in Peters place he
wouldn't dare even leave the dear Old
Brier Patch. You see at heart he really
is a coward
Just about the time that Peter
reached home in the dear Old Brier
Patch that night when in despair he
had had asked d., Prickly Porky the Porcu.
Weasel----just about that very time
Hooty the Owl gave up watching the
hollow log in which Shadow had es-
capped from him. Hooty had made up
his mind that it wasn't the least bit
of use to watch any longer. and he
was quite right. So he flew off to
| another part of the Green Forest to
Hunt for Mrs. Grouse or Jumper the
He was so hungry that not even Jim
my Skunk would have been safe if he
had happened along.
| Shadow waited just long enough to
make sure that Hooty really had left
the neighborhood. and then with a
| snarl of anger as he looked up at the
watch tower where Hooty had sat so
long, he darted into the pile of brush
where he knew Peter Rabbit had hid
den just before Hooty had come on the
scene. He really expected to find
Peter there. You see he was sure that
Peter would not dare to leave there
while Hooty was on guard. Just imag-
inc how disappointed he was when he
away in spite of Hooty. With another
ugly snarl, Shadow put his nose to
Peters tracks and leaDed out of the
brush. running with long jumps.
h 70 rJ1r, fo q
thought, but I'll get him anyway.
There isn't any place he can hide from
me-" he muttered.
He followed Peters tracks through
cruel smile he noticed how hard
Peter had run. By and by he came to
the tree where Peter had stopped to
ask help of Prickly Porky He Won
for. But he didn't ask Prickly Porky
In fact he took care not to let Prickly
Porky know that he was there. but
hurried on after Peter.
edge of the Green Forest. There
Shadow stopped. Those tracks led
straight out across the open Meadows,
and Shadow didn't dare follow them!
than! He was afraid. He was afraid
taat Hooty the Owl might come along
and catch him where there was no
place to hide. Peter in his brown coat
QdreQ TO cross TO the dear Ola Br1er
Patch, but Shadow in his white coat.
not nearly so likely to be seen. didn't
dare go out on the open meadows. You
see, he Is a coward. He appears very
brave and bold when there are plenty
of hiding places all about. but he is
afraid to come out in the open. His
deeds are deeds of darkness and he is
afraid of being seen. So, splitting and
snarling. he looked over toward the
dear Old Brier Patch and then gave
up the chase, just as Prickly Porky had
said he would.
'TI get him some other time" he
snarled as he turned back to the hunt
for some one else in the Green Forest.
And over in the dear Old Brier Patch
little Mrs. Peter snuggled up to Peter
while he told her of his terrible ad-
venture Then together they watched
fearfully for the coming of Shadow.
But when the night had worn away
and he had not come. they knew that
Prickly Porky had spoken truly and
| they were safe.
Merry Christmas" cried Mrs. Peter
as the first jolly sunbeams appeared.
Merry Christmas!" cried Peter, hap
PLY. You see. it was Christmas Day.