spotted tail was in disgrace. not only had he wickedly thrown bumper into the deep water in full view of all the others, but he had refused to accept the first challenge made to him. he knew that he could never live down both. one was enough to bring him into contempt, but the two together practically robbed him of all further influence among his people.

but instead of accepting his disgrace in a contrite spirit, he became moody and sullen. when the others, including fuzzy wuzz, avoided him, and passed him in silence, he gnashed his teeth in a fine rage.

then he very naturally laid all the blame to bumper, excusing himself from any guilt. this did not improve his manners any, and finally, satisfied that he could get no sympathy in his home burrow, he decided to seek revenge outside.

he would spread the tale among all his people in the woods that the white rabbit was a fraud, and that it was his intention to make them all submit to his rule. this would naturally cause 59general anger, and perhaps stir up a revolt. the coming of bumper in the woods had not reached far. rumors spread slowly unless taken up by the birds, and bumper had made no attempt to interest them in his cause. he was too busy learning the ways of the woods and the duties of a king and leader.

spotted tail decided to get ahead of him and spread the news first, distorting it to suit his purpose. he appealed to rusty the blackbird first. “rusty, you’ve always been a friend of mine,” he said, meeting him one day. “now, will you do me a great favor?”

“tell me what it is first, spotted tail,” was the reply.

“it is this, rusty. bumper the white rabbit has come into the woods from somewhere, and proclaimed himself king of all the rabbits. he is a cruel king, and intends to wage warfare upon all the burrows that do not submit to his rule. i want you to spread the news all over the woods, and warn all leaders of burrows to rise in revolt.”

rusty looked at the speaker, and flirted his wings. “no, no, spotted tail,” he replied. “i’m no carrier of evil messages. besides, i’ve met bumper the white rabbit, and i liked him. he didn’t seem to me cruel or a bad sort of fellow.”

60spotted tail appealed next to mr. woodpecker, who listened to his story in silence, and then tapped the trunk of a tree with his long, hard bill. “no, no, no!” he said, keeping time with his taps. “i don’t believe your story, spotted tail. bumper’s not that kind. good-bye.”

spotted tail looked disappointed. he was very sore and grouchy. it seemed as if the birds as well as the rabbits were all against him. why did they all like bumper the white rabbit so much?

he met towhee the chewink next, and approached her with a smile and friendly greeting, but when he had stated his grievance, and made his request, modest little towhee laughed in his face.

“i’ve got better business than spreading such news,” she replied. “you’ll have to find another messenger.”

in turn spotted tail approached piney the purple finch, mrs. ph?be bird and mr. crested flycatcher, and received from each one the same reply. none of them would undertake the work of stirring up a revolt against bumper.

it was shrike, the butcher bird, whose very name made him dreaded and hated

61he was in despair, and was bemoaning his luck when suddenly a voice startled him. “what’s the matter, spotted tail? you look black enough to obscure the sun.”

it was shrike the butcher bird, whose very name made him dreaded and hated. shrike had the unpleasant habit of catching insects, lizards, frogs, and sometimes small birds, and sticking them on thorns until he or his mate was ready to eat them. this disgusting and cruel habit made him an outcast among the birds, and very few would have anything to do with him. naturally, it soured his disposition, and made him irritable and unfriendly.

spotted tail looked up and a gleam of hope entered his eyes. why not ask the shrike to spread the message that would stir up trouble? by so doing he would accomplish two things. he would get even with the birds who had refused to listen to his plea, and accomplish the downfall of bumper.

“i have enough trouble to make me look blue,” spotted tail replied. “even the brightness of the sun doesn’t make me feel happy.”

“it must be trouble indeed, then,” laughed the shrike, “for it’s a beautiful day, and everybody else feels happy. what is it?”

“alack! and alas!” sighed the rabbit. “i’m afraid you won’t sympathize with me any more than mr. woodpecker or rusty the blackbird 62or any of the others. i have told my tale to them, and they only laught at me.”

a wicked gleam flashed from the eyes of shrike the butcher bird. “rusty and mr. woodpecker are self-conceited birds, and what they think don’t amount to much. little i’d care what they said or did.”

“but they won’t carry my message,” added spotted tail. “and if no one will do it how can i save the rabbits of the woods from the terrible thing that is coming to them?”

“what is this terrible thing?” queried the shrike, growing interested.

“it’s about bumper the white rabbit,” continued the dejected rabbit, sighing heavily. “he has come into the woods to rule over all my people, and he is a cruel, selfish king. he intends to make all of us his slaves. he won’t listen to reason, but says he’s appointed to rule, and any one who disputes his right he will drive from the woods.”

the shrike smiled. “why don’t you drive him from the woods?” he asked. “i never knew you to be afraid of anything. i’d quickly put an end to his rule.”

“quite right, mr. shrike. i would do it if it was only bumper i had to fight. but he has come into our burrow, and by tricks and strange 63ways won over old blind rabbit, fuzzy wuzz, goggle eyes, and all the others. they’re going to help him to rule in the woods.”

“ah! hum!” mused the shrike. “so that’s the trouble! you’re the only good rabbit in the burrow?”

“oh, no, i didn’t mean that,” protested spotted tail. “i’m no better than the others, but he couldn’t deceive me. i saw through his tricks, and because i opposed him i’m in disfavor.”

“and what is this message you want me to carry to the rest of the rabbits in the woods?”

“i wish to put them on their guard so bumper cannot deceive them. if they would rise in their might they could overwhelm him even if all my family backed him up. if a revolt isn’t begun right away, he will win them by degrees, and then it will be too late.”

“and rusty and mr. woodpecker refused to carry the message?” queried the shrike.

“yes,” sighed spotted tail. “i don’t believe they like me. i’ve never been very friendly with the birds.”

shrike the butcher bird hesitated for a moment to impale a worm on a thorn for future use, and then said:

“all right, spotted tail. i’ll carry the message to every rabbit burrow in the woods.”

64“oh, shrike, you’re so kind!” exclaimed spotted tail; but the bird interrupted him with a harsh laugh.

“it isn’t because i like you, spotted tail,” he said, “that i’m doing this, but just to spite the other birds. i’ll punish them for scorning and disliking me. that’s why i do it. good-bye! i’ll begin spreading the news right away.”