of course, bumper knew nothing about the revolt that spotted tail had stirred up in the woods against him. after all, he felt a little sympathy for spotted tail when all the others began to ignore him and give him the cold shoulder. but really there was nothing he could do, for spotted tail had brought the trouble all on himself because of his envy and spite.

“being a king isn’t all lettuce and carrots,” sighed bumper. “i’m not sure but i’d rather be just fuzzy wuzz, who smiles and laughs all day, or even goggle eyes, who eats altogether too much for himself, but seems to enjoy it.”

“then there’s so much a king has to know,” he added a moment later. “i’m learning all the time new things, but what i don’t know yet frightens me. i wish sometimes i could take a vacation, and just go off and forget everything. i wonder why kings don’t have vacations.”

such a thing as a vacation for a king was unheard of, although all of the rest could take any day they chose. bumper couldn’t even steal out 73of the burrow alone for a little run without somebody going with him. the king had to be watched and accompanied all the time.

now old blind rabbit, in proclaiming bumper the white rabbit king, had thought first of only his own family, for he had no control over the other burrows; but he was so well known for his wisdom and age that the leaders of other burrows would listen to his words. he had wanted to keep bumper’s coming a secret until he was sure that he had made no mistake in choosing him.

but now he thought was a good time to take him around to his friends—brindley the lame, pink nose, rolly polly and crooked ears. he wanted them to meet bumper and judge for themselves. as leaders of their families, they knew the prophecy of the coming of a white rabbit, who some day would rule over all their people and redeem them from their weak ways.

“bumper, my days are numbered, but yours are as many as the trees in the woods,” he said to the white rabbit. “before i go i want to see you accepted as king by pink nose, rolly polly, crooked ears, brindley the lame and white tail. then i can die in peace.”

bumper nodded his head, and asked who all these important people were.

74“they are leaders of big families here in the woods, and very influential. if they accept you all the other rabbits will follow.”

“and if they don’t?”

“then i fear there will be trouble. you cannot rule over a divided people and make them happy.”

this bit of wisdom could not be disputed, and bumper added sadly: “neither can the ruler be happy.”

“well said, bumper. but the time has come now when we must call on them. i shall take you in person, and explain to white tail and the others the meaning of our call.”

this idea rather frightened bumper. to meet so many important leaders, and carry himself as a king should, made him feel like quitting. just for an instant he thought of the red-headed girl and her wonderful garden, and wished he was back with her. how delightful it would be to do nothing all day long but eat and receive her petting! he even thought he might be happier with the old woman back in the city.

but only for an instant did his thoughts thus play truant. he was a king now, with duties to perform, and he wasn’t going to prove unequal to them. bumper had very fine qualities, which, after all, fitted him for a ruler more than his 75pink eyes and white fur. goodness and wisdom were better than fine clothes.

bumper had been learning rapidly the ways of his people in the woods, and he was quite familiar with many things that had before startled him. he had learned to know the difference between the good and bad plants, so there was no longer any danger of his poisoning himself. he had met washer the raccoon, and had made the acquaintance of sleepy the opossum. he was on good speaking terms with mr. beaver, and billy the mink had put himself out to compare his fur with his own beautiful coat.

he knew every trail in the woods, and could scent mr. fox from afar. he had even learned to swim, which he considered necessary for his health. the birds were his friends, and he had learned much from them. frequently they brought him news which guided him in his work.

a few days after the old blind rabbit had announced his intention of introducing bumper to white tail and the others, rusty the black bird appeared near the burrow, and perched himself on the top of the rock until the white rabbit appeared.

“hello, bumper!” he called.

“good-morning, rusty!” replied bumper. “it’s a long time since i’ve seen you.”

76“if you’d arrange to see me oftener,” was the retort, “you wouldn’t get in so much trouble.”

“thank you, rusty, but i didn’t know i was in trouble.”

“huh!” whistled rusty. “some people don’t know when they are in trouble.”

“then it shouldn’t bother them,” laughed bumper. “if you don’t know you have any trouble, why worry?”

“that may be good enough for a king, but it would never do for common people. we must be hunting for trouble all the time to avoid it.”

“if you hunt for it you’ll generally find it. no, i don’t believe in looking for what you don’t want.”

rusty was a little provoked at what he took as a personal rebuke, and was half inclined to fly away; but bumper’s smile changed his mind.

“just to show you that trouble comes whether you hunt for it or not, i’m going to tell you something,” he added. “you’re going to be in a peck of trouble soon, bumper.”

“that’s much better than being in a bushel, isn’t it?” he laughed.

“oh, stop your joking, and be serious. this is a serious matter for you.”

“all right, i’m listening.”

“well, then, spotted tail has been spreading 77false rumors about you. he asked me to carry the message, but i refused, and he asked mr. woodpecker and towhee the chewink. they told me so. but they wouldn’t listen to him.”

“i’m very grateful for that, and you can tell towhee and mr. woodpecker so. but if nobody carried the news how did it get abroad?”

“mr. shrike the butcher bird carried it just because we wouldn’t. and after telling all the rabbits he told the news to mr. fox and buster the bear.”

“what is the news he told?” asked bumper, gravely.

in a few words rusty told him, and when he was through bumper was graver than before. it pained him to think that spotted tail would betray him, and it made him sad to believe that his words could stir up discord among the rabbits.

“thank you, rusty,” he said in conclusion. “i’m glad to know it. forewarned is forearmed.”

“oh! ho!” laughed rusty. “now you begin to change your mind about trouble. but you don’t have to hunt for it. it’s coming soon. it’s here now!”