Evening star., 1920-03-23

lis WOnurOus Wh3t tne spring VIII ~
Even Johnny Chuck is made anew.
Once sure that the dog had forgot
ten all about him Peter Rabbit got
over his fright. There is no one
among all the little people of the
Green Meadows and Green Forest who
| is more easily frightened than Peter
Rabbit. and there is no one who gets
as fear left him curiosity took its
place. He just couldn't sit still and
listen to the barking of that dog and
not see what was going on. So Peter
very softly stole back toward the
place where he had left Johnny Chuck
see the, end Of Johnny Chuck. He
didn't want to see it. and yet for the
life of him he couldn't keep away. So
he stole nearer and nearer until at
last he could see just what was going
on. What he saw was Johnny Chuck
with his back to a fence post while he
faced that dog. But it was new
Johnny Chuck. 1t wasn't the Johnny
Chuck Peter was acquainted with.
No. sir: it wasn't that Johnny Chuck
at all. The Johnny Chuck Peter had
known so long WAS rather lazy.
goOd-natured fellow. always ready to
plunge down into his hole at the first
hint of danger. This Johnny Chuck
with his back to that fence post was
a different person altogether. There
was nothing timid about him. He
didn't look as if he knew the meaning
of the word fear. His hair was stand
ing on end until he looked twice as
big as Peter had ever seen him be-
fore. His eyes fairly blaZed with an
ger. His lips were drawn back so that
his long teeth showed. and very wick
ed looking teeth they were. He was
fighting mad. was Johnny Chuck. and
he looked positively savage.
Just little way in front of him tn e
otr h2ncipp a nd
barking at the top OF his lungs. He
would rush at Johnny Chuck and then
stop short as if his courage had sud-
denly left him. Johnny Chuck on
his part. was growing and snarling in
a way that was most unpleasant to
hear. He was daring that dog to
come on. Finally the dog thought
he saw a chance and rushed in. In
stantly there was snarlinG. growing
tumbling mass on the ground: The
and over fast that Peter never
could tell which was on top. All the
time Johnny Chucks stout hind legs
were working faster than ever they
worked when he was digging hole
and the claws on JOhnny's feet were
making the hair fly from THAT dog.
That dog wasn't barking now. He
was yelping. Yes. sir; he was yelp
ing. Peter couldn't tell whether
Johnny Chuck was trying to get away
to get away from Johnny Chuck. but
IT began TO look as if the latter was
the case.
Presently they separated. Johnny
Chuck scrambled back to his old
place at the foot of the fence post.
while the dog limped away for few
feet and began to lick a paw which
Johnny Chuck had caught between
his sharp teeth. Johnny was still
snarling and growing and he looked
fiercer than ever. That dog looked
a little bit foolish. but he was game
and as soon as he had recovered his
breath he rushed at Johnny again
Then the same thing happened all
over again. 1t happened two or three
times. It was wonderful fght-a
very terrible fight. Peter thought. 1t
was quite clear that Johnny Chuck
was holding his own. After n while
il began to look as II he was more
than holding his own. At last the
dog shook himself free and this time
he did not stop. He limped away
across the Green Meadows. whining
and whimpering. He had met more
than his match and he knew it. 1t
would be long time before he would
again try to kill a full grown Chuck.
AS for Peter Rabbit. he was filled
with a new and very great respect for
his old friend and neighbor, Johnny
Chuck.
tCoyyright. 1920. by r. w Buryess)