old blind rabbit was so pleased with the result of the revolt, and especially with bumper’s forgiveness of spotted tail, that he immediately proclaimed a great feast to celebrate it. all the younger rabbits were sent forth in the woods to gather food for the banquet, and they came back laden with the most delicious roots and succulent leaves until their mouths watered. the burrow was piled high with them, as if it was being stocked against a ten-day siege by mr. fox and buster the bear.
“now we will eat and be merry,” old blind rabbit said when they were all gathered around the festive board. “may no more trouble come to my family or to any of the other rabbits of the woods!”
bumper was called upon to make a speech, which he did, and spotted tail led the others in clapping his paws at the conclusion. while the excitement was running high, old blind rabbit whispered in bumper’s ear:
100“when you make a friend of your enemy, you have made a friend indeed. watch spotted tail’s enthusiasm.”
bumper had already been watching him, and a little glow of pleasure was in his heart. even greater than being made king, he thought, was the winning of spotted tail’s loyalty.
“all’s well that ends well,” he murmured.
of course, rusty the blackbird might have doubted the genuineness of spotted tail’s friendship, and so would have shrike the butcher bird, but that was because they didn’t understand the nature and habits of the rabbits as bumper and old blind rabbit did. they knew that spotted tail had changed, and all the envy and hatred had left his heart.
as if to prove this, something happened in the woods a few days later, which dispelled any doubts that either may have had. bumper and spotted tail had gone off together in the thickest part of the woods when they came to an old gravel pit.
this was a deep hole in the ground which had nearly been covered up with thick weeds and briers. bumper and spotted tail had been hopping along without thought of danger. around and over the gravel pit a thick clump of bushes was growing.
101“i think i can take that clump with a big hop,” bumper remarked, preparing for a spring.
spotted tail glanced up to follow, and then shouted in alarm: “don’t do it, bumper! the gravel pit!”
spotted tail had recognized the danger if bumper should fall short of his jump, but his warning was too late. bumper had sprung into the air, and, just as spotted tail had feared, the tops of the bushes interfered with his leap. instead of clearing the place, bumper fell plump through the mass of weeds into the deep pit.
down, down he went, scratching his face and body as he fell. instead of landing on all four feet as he expected to do, he dropped heavily on one foot and wrenched his leg.
spotted tail heard his groans with alarm. what had happened to bumper? he called aloud, and received only groans in reply.
now perhaps it would have been wiser for spotted tail to have run back to the burrow, and summon help; but he was so worried over the result of the accident that only one thing occurred to him. he deliberately leaped into the gravel pit after bumper. this required a good deal of courage, for he knew the danger. he recalled stories of how more than one rabbit in the past 102had been caught in this natural trap and held there for days and weeks until nearly famished.
when he landed by the side of bumper at the bottom of the pit, he found the king huddled up in a heap, groaning with pain.
“what is it, bumper?” he asked anxiously.
“i’ve broken my leg or sprained it,” was the reply. “and it pains so that even a king cannot help moaning.”
“let me see it,” replied spotted tail.
for a long time spotted tail rubbed it, and tried to ease the pain. after a while it grew better, but it was still too lame for bumper to stand much weight on it.
“how am i ever going to get out of this hole?” he asked, looking up. “i can’t jump out of it with this sprained leg.”
“no,” replied spotted tail. “no rabbit has ever yet been able to hop out of the gravel pit. i’m afraid we’re trapped here until the others find us.”
“is it so bad as that?”
“yes, and worse.”
then spotted tail told him the stories of the gravel pit, and of the many times young rabbits had been caught there.
“it should have been filled in, then, before 103this,” said bumper. “when i get home i’ll give orders to have it filled up.”
“that would be a good idea. but the important question now is, how are you going to get out?”
“how are you going to get out?” asked bumper, smiling.
“that doesn’t matter so much if i can get you out.”
“you couldn’t jump to the top?”
“no, no rabbit could—not even you, bumper.”
“and if we stay here we’ll starve?”
“unless mr. fox happens to discover us, and eats us up. he’s big enough to scramble down here and out again.”
“it’s a pretty serious position we’re in, then,” mused bumper.
“i have it!” spotted tail exclaimed suddenly. “see that bush fallen in the hole. the wind must have blown it in here. now, i’ll climb on it, and then you climb on my back. i think by standing on my shoulders then you’ll be able to reach the top and scramble out.”
“but you? how’ll you get out?”
“oh, i’ll manage it some way.”
this seemed like good advice, and spotted tail made his way cautiously to the highest part of the bush. then bumper followed him. then 104he climbed up on spotted tail’s back, and stood on his shoulders.
“now get ready when i raise myself up on my hind legs!” cautioned spotted tail. “you must jump and scramble up before the bush gives way.”
it was quite an acrobatic feat, but they balanced themselves skilfully until both stood upright on their haunches. “i can’t reach it!” exclaimed bumper. “it’s a foot above my head!”
“jump, then!” exclaimed spotted tail. “the bush is sagging down! quick, bumper, jump!”
and bumper jumped, and scrambled up out of the pit. it was hard work with his sprained leg, but he reached the top. but spotted tail had fallen back to the bottom, and the bush after him. there was no way he could get out.
“i’ll run back to the burrow and get help!” bumper said finally. “we’ll get you out somehow.”
but the only way they could get spotted tail out was to fill in the sand pit. bumper hit on this idea after they had tried every other method. by filling it in spotted tail could gradually crawl up higher and higher until he hopped out.
and bumper’s method of filling it in was very simple. all the rabbits turned their faces away 105from the sand pit and began digging hard with their hind legs, throwing the dirt and gravel in the pit until it was nearly on a level with the ground. so the dangerous sand pit was no longer a trap for the rabbits.
