 Chapter 1 of The Tale of Peter Mink Chapter 1 How Peter was Different There were two ways in which Peter Mink was different from any other person in Pleasant Valley, or on Blue Mountain either. In the first place he had no home, and in the second he had a very long neck. The reason why Peter had no home was because he didn't want one, and the reason why he had such a long neck was because he couldn't help it. When he grew sleepy he would crawl into any snug place he happened to find, sometimes in a hollow stump or in a pile of rocks or a haystack. And often he even drove a muskrat out of his house, so he could sleep there. Most of the time Peter Mink went about in rags and tatters. Whenever he did have a new suit, which wasn't often, it never looked well for long. Naturally sleeping in all sorts of places did not improve it, but what specially wore out his clothes was the way he was always squeezing through small holes and cracks. Wherever Peter saw a narrow place he never could resist trying to get through it. He was a long, slim fellow with a small, snake-like head, and he always knew that if he could squeeze his head through a crack he could get his body through it too. It is not at all strange that Mrs. Rabbit and Mrs. Quirrell and Mrs. Woodchuck, as well as a good many other people, did not care to have their sons in Peter Mink's company. They said that anyone who went about looking as untidy as he did and without a home was not likely to set a good example to the young. But Jimmy Rabbit and Friskie Quirrell and Billy Woodchuck loved to be with Peter Mink. To be sure he was quarrelsome, and he was always ready to fight any one four times as big as he was. So they had to be careful not to offend him, but in spite of that they found him interesting. He was such a fine swimmer. He could swim underwater just as well as he could swim with his head above the surface. And in winter he was not afraid to swim under the ice in broad brook. There was another thing about Peter Mink that made the younger forest people admire him. He was a famous fisherman. He could dive for a trout and catch him too, just as likely as not. And there was nothing more exciting than to see Peter Mink pull an eel out of the water. It is really a great pity that he was so rough. But you see he left home at an early age and grew up without having anyone to tell him what he ought and ought not to do. No doubt he didn't know the difference between right and wrong. Jimmy Rabbit's mother used to call him The Pist. She often remarked that she wished Peter would leave the neighbourhood and never come back. I am sure that Johnny Green's father would have agreed with her because Peter Mink was too fond of ducks to suit Farmer Green. Of course Peter didn't care to eat ducks all the time. Sometimes he dined on a fat hen. But even then Farmer Green was angry. No doubt Peter Mink thought him hard to please. End of Chapter 1 Chapter 2 of The Tale of Peter Mink This is a LibraVox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraVox.org. This reading by Lucy Burgoyne. The Tale of Peter Mink by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 2 Soaring Wood It was really no wonder that Mrs. Rabbit did not like Peter Mink. When you hear what happened the very first time she saw him, you will understand why Mrs. Rabbit always called him The Pist. One day Mrs. Rabbit heard a knock on her door and when she went to see who was there she found a ragged young fellow with his hat tipped far over on one side. Instead of a collar he wore a handkerchief about his neck. But it would have taken at least a dozen handkerchiefs tied one above another to cover the stranger's neck, for it was by far the longest neck Mrs. Rabbit had ever seen. What do you want? Mrs. Rabbit asked. Something to eat, said the stranger. You notice that he didn't say please. That was a word that Peter Mink had never used. Probably he didn't even know what it meant. Now Mrs. Rabbit saw that the stranger was very thin. She did not know that no matter how much he ate he would never be what you might call fat. That slimness was something that ran in Peter Mink's family. The Minks were always slender people. Being a kind hearted soul Mrs. Rabbit went back to her kitchen and soon she brought Peter a plateful of the best food she had. You're not ill are you? She asked Peter. No he answered as he took the dish. Then said Mrs. Rabbit I shall expect you to do some work to pay for this food. All right said Peter that he wished that he had said he was ill, for he simply hated work and he made it a rule never to do a stroke of work if he could avoid it. Well he sat down on Mrs. Rabbit's doorstep and ate what she had given him and while he was eating Jimmy Rabbit came out and watched him. Even Jimmy Rabbit could see that he had very bad manners. He held something to eat in each hand and he didn't seem to care from which hand he ate so long as he kept his mouth stuffed so full that he could hardly talk. What's your name? Peter Mink asked Jimmy and when Jimmy told him he said no wonder you're fat with such good things to eat as your mother makes. When Mrs. Rabbit heard that she was pleased and for a time she thought that perhaps the stranger was not so bad as he looked. When he had almost finished his lunch Mrs. Rabbit went back into her house once more and pretty soon she came out with a saw in her hand. She gave the saw to Peter Mink and said now you may saw some wood to pay me for the food. You'll find the wood pile behind the house and you may saw all of it she added. Peter Mink took the saw and started for the wood pile and Jimmy Rabbit followed him. Peter sawed just one stick of wood and then he said to Jimmy go in and ask your mother if she can't find an old pair of shoes for me. So Jimmy ran into the house to find his mother and kind hearted Mrs. Rabbit began at once to hunt for a pair of shoes to give the stranger. She had noticed that his toes were sticking out. Pretty soon she found some shoes which she thought would fit the stranger and when she stepped to her door again there he was waiting for her. What is the wood all sawed so soon asked Mrs. Rabbit. If it is you're a scribe worker young man. The saw said Peter Mink. The saw is no good at all. It broke before I finished sawing half the wood pile and that was true too in a way because he had only sawed one stick. Well if you finished half of it you haven't done badly Mrs. Rabbit told him and she gave Peter Mink the shoes. They're not very new he grumbled but they're better than none. They certainly were much better than the shoes he had been wearing. Then Peter Mink went slouching off. He did not even thank Mrs. Rabbit for her kindness. He did not even take away his old shoes but left them on the doorstep for Mrs. Rabbit to pick up. I must say that young man has had no bringing up at all. She told Jimmy. I hope this is the last we'll see of them. Come she said help me bring in some of the wood he sawed. Well Mrs. Rabbit was surprised when she found that the stranger had sawed only one stick. When Mr. Rabbit came home he took just one look at his broken saw and he was more than surprised. He was angry. Why? He said. I do believe that good for nothing rascal broke my saw on purpose so he wouldn't have to work. End of chapter 2 chapter 3 of the tale of Peter Mink. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. This reading by Lucy Burgoyne. The Tale of Peter Mink by Arthur Scott Bailey. Chapter 3 Making Peter Work Peter Mink waited several days before he knocked at Mrs. Rabbit's door again. And when he did at last come back he first made sure that her husband was not at home. You see Peter had heard that Mr. Rabbit had told some of the forest people that Peter had broken he saw. So he wouldn't have to saw wood to pay for the food that Mrs. Rabbit gave him. When Mrs. Rabbit saw who it was that knocked she came very near shutting the door in Peter's face. But she couldn't help noticing again how thin Peter was. And when he asked for something to eat she had in the heart to refuse him. You're not ill are you? She asked. Well yes I am. Said Peter Mink. Fogly. He would actually rather tell a lie than work. And he thought that if he said he was ill Mrs. Rabbit wouldn't expect him to do any work to pay for what she might give him. You looked to me as if you needed some Cambric tea Mrs. Rabbit said. Now if there was anything that Peter Mink disliked it was Cambric tea. If she had said chicken broth he might have liked that. I've been very ill he said but now the doctor tells me I must have good nourishing food and plenty of it. Well if you're well enough to eat you're well enough to work said Mrs. Rabbit. Oh certainly answered Peter. Mrs. Rabbit went into the house then and when she came out again Peter Mink was surprised at what she brought. He had expected another plateful of goodies but instead of that Mrs. Rabbit had an axe in her hand. Here she said take this out to the wood pile and use it. I want you to split every stick of wood you can find then knock on the door again and I'll bring you something to eat. You ought to have seen Peter Mink's cow as he walked away to the wood pile with the axe on his shoulder. It was a lesson to anybody never to frown. She didn't think she could make me work Peter said to himself I'll just break her old axe that's what I'll do. And he swung the axe with all his might at a stick of wood but the axe didn't break and as for the stick it fell in two pieces so Peter had split it perfectly. He was so out of patience that he aimed a hard blow at another stick of wood. Again he didn't hurt the axe at all and again he split the wood exactly as Mrs. Rabbit wanted him to but Peter never thought of that. Peter Mink scowled even worse than ever and he made up his mind that he would break Mrs. Rabbit's axe if he had to use up the whole wood pile to do it. Well that is just what happened Peter tried so hard to break the axe so he wouldn't have to work that before he knew it he had split all the wood. He was just about to look for a rock then on which to break the axe when he happened to think that there was no longer any sense in trying to do that because the work was all done. So he put the axe across his shoulder and went and knocked on Mrs. Rabbit's door. Bring on your food he said when Mrs. Rabbit appeared. Is the axe all right? She asked. It didn't break did it? No indeed he said though I was rather expecting it wood. Is the wood all split? She inquired. Every stick of it answered Peter. Then bring it here near the back door Mrs. Rabbit told him that will help pay for the saw you broke here last week. I'll do nothing of the kind said Peter Mink and he was so angry that he went back to the wood pile and began throwing sticks of wood at Mrs. Rabbit's house trying to break a window. And before he knew it he had thrown the whole wood pile in almost the exact spot where Mrs. Rabbit wanted it and he hadn't broken a single window either. But Peter Mink never once realised what he had done. He went off to take a swim in the brook and maybe catch a trout. Later when Mrs. Rabbit saw that in spite of what Peter had said he had moved her wood pile for her. She wondered why he had not asked for something to eat. But Peter Mink never knocked on her door again. He kept away from Mrs. Rabbit ever afterward because she was the only person who had ever been able to make him work. End of Chapter 3 Chapter 4 of The Tale of Peter Mink This is a Libra Box recording. All Libra Box recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibraBox.org. This reading by Lucy Burgoyne. The Tale of Peter Mink by Arthur Scott Bailey. Chapter 4 The Lecture Peter Mink was going to give a lecture. He had invited everybody. It's something you all ought to hear. He said, and it will cost you nothing to come. Another time he explained whoever hears my lecture will have to pay, but this one is free. Old Mr. Crowe remarked that he supposed Peter Mink was going to tell people how to catch ducks. And since he never cared anything at all about ducks, he said he didn't expect to be present. I'm glad you're not coming, Peter Mink answered, because I'm afraid there won't be room for all the people who intend to hear me. As for ducks, I'd do more think of giving a lecture about ducks than I would about crows. Old Mr. Crowe pretended not to hear what Peter said. He did not care even to be seen talking with such a worthless fellow. But there were many other people living in Pleasant Valley and on Blue Mountain who decided to go to Peter Mink's lecture. When they learned that they might get in free. And when the night of the lecture arrived, even Peter himself was surprised to see how many were present. To be sure, Peter noticed that some of the audience were smiling and some of them were nudging one another, as if they thought the whole thing was nothing but a joke. And when the full moon climbed over the top of Blue Mountain and Peter Mink climbed on top of an old stump and faced the gathering, a few rude persons laughed aloud. What about ducks? Somebody called from a tree above Peter's head. Everybody titted at that because everybody knew that Peter was very fond of ducks and spent much of his time at Farmer Green's Duck Pond. It was Old Mr. Crowe who asked that question. He had come to the lecture in spite of what he had said. My lecture, Peter Mink, began when all was quiet. My lecture tonight is going to be about a poor boy who has no one to take care of him. He has no home and very often he goes about in rags. Sometimes he begs for food and clothes. I think, Peter said, we all ought to be very sorry for him. As soon as Peter said that, Mrs. Squirrel and Mrs. Woodchuck took out their pocket handkerchiefs and wiped their eyes. And Mrs. Squirrel's husband was heard to remark that it was a shame and that he thought something ought to be done. Well, Peter Mink went on and told them as many as 23 different tales about that poor boy to show them what a hard life he led. Every tale was sadder than the one just before it. And by the time Peter had finished the 23rd, there were very few dry eyes in the place. And Mrs. Squirrel spoke up loudly and said once more that something ought to be done about it. When he said that, Uncle Jerry Chuck rose hurriedly and hobbled away from the lecture. He had sat in one of the best seats because it was free. And he had wept quite noisily, once or twice, because it cost no more to weep. And he wanted all he could get for nothing. But when Mrs. Squirrel said what he did, Uncle Jerry once thought of a collection and he decided that he had better leave before it was too late. Peter Mink saw him go and here and there he noticed other people who looked as if they would like to leave too. And he knew that there was no time to lose. I see one gentleman leaving. Peter Mink said in a loud voice, I hope no more will go unless, of course, they're so stingy that they wouldn't care to give a little something to help this poor boy I've been telling you about. After that, nobody wanted to leave because nobody wanted to be thought stingy. I appoint Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Woodchuck to take up a collection for this poor boy, Peter Mink said, and I've no doubt that they will be glad to give all they can themselves. Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Woodchuck saw that everybody was looking at them and they at once emptied their pocket books into their hats. What's his name? What's the boy's name? A horse voice called. It was Mr. Crow who asked the question. That, said Peter Mink, is something I do not care to tell to everybody. And many people clapped their hands. They were beginning to have a better opinion of Peter Mink. But old Mr. Crow only laughed loudly from his perch in the tree. End of Chapter 4, Chapter 5 at the Tale of Peter Mink. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This reading by Lucy Burgoyne. The Tale of Peter Mink by Arthur Scott Bailey. Chapter 5, Passing the Hat. After giving all they happened to have in their pocket books, Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Woodchuck began to pass their hats to take up the collection for the poor boy that Peter Mink had been telling them about. And all the people who had come to hear Peter's lecture began to dig down into their pockets. That's right, cried Peter. Give what you can. Of course, I don't expect the poor people to give as much as the rich. That made everybody decide that he would give all he had with him. And many people wished they had brought more. Besides, no one wanted to be thought stingy, like Uncle Jerry Chuck, who had hurried away as soon as he suspected that there was going to be a collection. When Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Woodchuck had passed their hats to every person present, their hats were filled to the brim, and they marched proudly up to the stump where Peter Mink still stood. Peter jumped down to the ground. Keep your seats, everybody, he called. The next thing to be done is to count this money, and I will do that myself. So Peter picked up the two hats and started away. Where are you going? Mr. Rabbit asked him. Just a little way into the woods, said Peter. It's so noisy here with all this talking that I might make a mistake. We'll go with you and help you, Mr. Rabbit told him. Oh, you don't need to do that, said Peter Mink. But Mr. Rabbit insisted. One of those hats is mine, he remarked, and wherever it goes, I go too. And he beckoned to Mr. Woodchuck to follow. Well, Peter Mink didn't like that very well. You see, he had planned to go into the woods alone with the money, and nobody likes to have his plans upset. But there was nothing he could say, so they all three went into a thicket and the elderberry bushes encountered the money. I thought there was more, Peter said. Maybe we drop some of the money. You and Mr. Woodchuck had better go back and see if you can find any. He told Mr. Rabbit. But Mr. Rabbit said they could just as well all go back together and search along the ground as they went. All right, said Peter Mink. Well, leave these hats forth right here for a while. But Mr. Rabbit said he didn't think that would be a safe thing to do, so he picked up one hatful and told Mr. Woodchuck to carry the other. Peter Mink didn't like that at all, but there was nothing he could say, so they all went back together to the place where the rest of the people were still waiting, and they found no more money either. Mr. Rabbit jumped up on the stump where Peter had stood and talked. The question is, he said, Who is going to take charge of all this money? I am, said Peter Mink. But Mr. Rabbit said that he didn't think that would be safe. You have no home, you know, he told Peter, and you can't very well carry the money about with you. I must have my hat back, and no doubt Mr. Woodchuck will want his too. Mr. Woodchuck nodded his head. He certainly did want his hat. It was the best one he had. I would suggest, said Mr. Rabbit then, I would suggest that I take one hatful home with me, and that Mr. Woodchuck take the other to his house. Then we'll each have our hats, and the money will be perfectly safe. That's a good idea, Peter Mink said. The only trouble with it is that it won't do at all. For you and Mr. Woodchuck don't know the poor boy, so how could you ever give him the money? Everybody said that was so. This Peter Mink is certainly a bright young fellow. People told one another. Mr. Rabbit looked puzzled. What do you suggest then? He asked Peter. Peter Mink smiled. He seemed pleased for one reason or another. This stump, he said, is hollow. As you can all see, there's a small hole in it. We can put the money in there and nobody can get it out. It will be the same as in a bank. Mr. Rabbit looked at the hole in the stump. I know I can't get through that hole, he said. But what about you, young fellow? He asked Peter. Oh, I can't squeeze through such a hole, as this, said Peter. See, he pushed his nose partway through the hole, and there his head seemed to stick. He could have squirmed through if he had really tried, but nobody else seemed to know it. But how is the poor boy ever going to get his money? Mr. Rabbit inquired. Oh, he's very slim, Peter Mink said. He can get inside the stump. Don't you worry about him. Everybody seemed satisfied. So they dropped the money through the hole. And then Mr. Rabbit said, When are you going to bring the poor boy to get the money? Tomorrow night would be a good time, Peter Mink said. Would you all like to come here tomorrow night at this same hour? And everybody said yes. End of Chapter 5. Chapter 6. At the Tale of Peter Mink. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This reading by Lucy Burgoyne. The Tale of Peter Mink by Arthur Scott Bailey. Chapter 6. Mr. Rabbit is Worried. When Mr. Rabbit reached home after Peter Mink's lecture and told his wife about the money that had been collected for the poor boy whom Peter Mink knew, she asked, Who has the money? Oh, it's safe, said Mr. Rabbit. It's hidden in an old stump. And the hole in the stump is so small that even Peter himself can't crawl through it. How do you know he can't? He tried, said Mr. Rabbit. How do you know he tried as hard as he could? Mrs. Rabbit asked. That was what made Mr. Rabbit worry. So instead of going to bed, he hurried back to the place where Peter had given his famous lecture and there he hid himself under a small pine. Mr. Rabbit hadn't waited long before he saw someone come out of the elderberry bushes and hurry up to the stump. It was Peter Mink. He had a bag in his hand and while Mr. Rabbit was watching, he squeezed through the hole in the stump. Even for Peter Mink, the hole was almost too small that he managed to squirm through. They would cost him a few groans and he said some words that made Mr. Rabbit shake his head. Well, as soon as Peter was inside the hole, he began to push the money through it and then what do you suppose Mr. Rabbit did? He crept up to the stump, picked up the bag which Peter had left on the ground and as fast as the money rolled out of the hole, Mr. Rabbit put it inside the bag. The bag was almost full when the money stopped rolling out of the hole and Mr. Rabbit heard Peter Mink say to himself, that seems to be all and as soon as he heard that, Mr. Rabbit hurried away with the bag of money over his shoulder. Peter Mink waited a bit to see if he could find more money but he had thrown it all out so he squeezed through the hole again. Then he turned to pick up the bag but it had vanished. That's queer, said Peter Mink. I thought I left that bag right here. He looked all around but he couldn't find it anyway so he took off his ragged coat and laid it on the ground. I'll put the money in this, Peter said. But when he looked for the money he couldn't find a single piece. That's queer, said Peter. It must have rolled away from the stump and he began to search all about but the money too had vanished completely and Peter Mink couldn't understand it. The following night when everybody came back again expecting that Peter Mink would bring the poor boy with him to get the money, Peter never appeared at all. Finally Mr. Rabbit jumped on top of the stump and told his friends what had happened the night before and now he said everybody can come right up here and get his money back for there's no doubt at all that Peter Mink was collecting it for himself. He was the poor boy he told us about. Everybody was surprised but everybody was glad to get his money again. In fact, there was only one person who grumbled and that was Uncle Jerry Chuck. He hurried up to the stump ahead of all the rest to get some money and he seemed more surprised than ever when Mr. Rabbit said there was no money there for him. I was at the lecture last night and Uncle Jerry said but you left before the money was collected. Mr. Rabbit replied Uncle Jerry admitted that that was so but he claimed that he had made less trouble for everybody because one had been obliged to handle the money that he hadn't given but Mr. Rabbit told him he ought to be ashamed of himself and everyone will say Peter Mink ought to have been ashamed of himself too. End of chapter 6 Chapter 7 of The Tale of Peter Mink This is a Libra Box recording. All Libra Box recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibraBox.org This reading by Lucy Burgoyne The Tale of Peter Mink by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 7 Peter's Bad Temper Peter Mink was always quarrelling and he seemed always ready to fight even people who were four times bigger than he was and when he fought Peter usually won but there was one person Peter Mink was afraid of and that was Fatty Coon. Fatty was almost too big for Peter Mink to whip and his teeth were very sharp and his claws were like thorns. One day Peter and Fatty had a dispute. Fatty Coon had said that a hen made the finest meal in the world but Peter Mink spoke up at once and said it wasn't so. There's nothing quite like a duck, he said. Fatty Coon sneered. Ducks may be all right, he cried. In fact, in my opinion they are far too good for any member of the Mink family to eat but for me, give me a plump hen and just thinking about hens made him hungry and being hungry made him think of green corn give me a plump hen and plenty of green corn and he looked all around as if he expected somebody would hurry up to him with a hen in one hand and a dozen ears of corn in the other but nobody came. You're a big guy, Peter Mink shouted. He was very angry but he did not dare fight Fatty Coon. I guess you wish I was smaller, said Fatty Coon so you could fight me. At that, Peter Mink looked very fierce and he turned to frisky squirrel and Billy Woodchuck and Jimmy Rabbit and shouted take hold of me quick, you fellas before I hurt him for I can't keep my hands off him a second longer. When they heard that his friends were frightened they were afraid Peter Mink would fly at him and hurt him terribly so they all seized Peter and held him fast while they begged Fatty to run away. Now Fatty Coon was not the least bit afraid of Peter but talking of good things to eat had made him so hungry that he felt he must hurry down to Farmer Green's cornfield at once so he said goodbye and left them. After Fatty had disappeared Peter Mink said it was safe to let him go again but it was lucky that they had held him and frisky squirrel and Billy Woodchuck and Jimmy Rabbit agreed afterwards that Peter Mink was a dangerous fellow they were glad that Fatty Coon had escaped the next day almost the same thing happened again only this time Peter Mink remarked that there was nothing any tastier than a fine eel Fatty Coon told him that eels might be good enough for the Mink family but as for him he preferred Green Peas somebody hold me quick Peter Mink screamed I don't want to hurt him but I'm losing my temper fast several Fatty Coon's friends started to seize Peter Mink so Fatty might run away but there was one person present who had not been there the day before this was Tommy Fox and he only laughed when Peter Mink said what he did don't touch him Tommy told the others let's see what he'll do Fatty isn't afraid of him why certainly not Fatty Coon said and he smiled in such a way that he showed his sharp teeth somebody stop me before it's too late Peter Mink cried but nobody laid a hand on him and still Peter did not move go ahead Tommy Fox urged him you said you were losing your temper you know I'm waiting Fatty Coon called and he held up both his front paws Peter saw how strong and sharp his claws were I declare Peter Mink said I haven't lost my temper after all I felt it going for a moment but it came back again End of Chapter 7 Chapter 8 of The Tale of Peter Mink This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Lucy Burgoyne The Tale of Peter Mink by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 8 at The Garden Party Peter Mink was angry with Tommy Fox for it was he who showed everybody that Peter was afraid of Fatty Coon Peter Mink was so angry that he went about telling everybody he met how he was going to punish Tommy Fox when I finished with him he said he'll know enough to keep his advice to himself What are you going to do to him? Jimmy Rabbit inquired Well I'm going to bite his nose Peter explained because it was his nose that he stuck in my affairs and Peter went away muttering even worse things to his cousin who was with him his cousin's name was Slim Mink and he was spending the summer in Farmer Green's haystack near the duck pond Slim had heard somewhere that there was a place called the reform school where boys were sent who fought too much and he began to be afraid that if Peter did to Tommy Fox half the things he said he was going to do someone would come along and catch Peter and send him to the reform school and the reform school was an awful place Why? Boys who went there had to sleep in beds they had to wash their faces every morning and brush their hair and have table menace it was no wonder that Slim began to worry you'd better let that young Fox alone he told Peter you fight too much if you don't look out something dreadful will happen to you someday he'll get sent to the reform school but Peter Mink told him to hold his tongue if you're not careful Peter said I'll bite your nose too now Slim was smaller than his cousin Peter and he didn't want his nose bitten so he kept quiet after that but he hoped that Peter would take his advice let's go down to the brook and fish he suggested hoping that he could get Peter's mind off Tommy Fox you can go if you want said Peter Mink and save me some fish too or it will be the worst for you Slim decided that he wouldn't go fishing after all and he roamed through the woods with Peter who was determined to find Tommy Fox and at last Peter found him at a garden party that was being given by Jimmy Rabbit in Farmer Green's garden everybody but Tommy Fox was having refreshments but he said he didn't feel like eating anything that was because he was polite he never cared for lettuce or peas or cabbage Peter Mink had not been invited to the garden party but that made no difference to him before anyone knew what was happening he marched straight up to Tommy Fox and bit him on the nose then they followed such an uproar as never before been seen in Farmer Green's garden Tommy Fox and Peter Mink rolled over and over upon the ground and for a long time nobody could tell from the other but after a while that squirming heap of tails and legs began to turn more slowly until at last it stopped all together Peter Mink was a sad sight he had been ragged enough before the fight but now he looked ten times worse and one of his eyes was closed and he had lost his hat and one shoe everyone was glad that the trouble was over and everyone was glad that Tommy Fox had won and to everybody's surprise the gladdest of all was Slim Mink Peter's cousin hurray he cried the others had been too polite to say anything what makes you shout that Peter asked Slim why? his cousin answered Tommy Fox hurt you instead of your hurting him and now you won't have to go to the reform school but for once Peter Mink thought there might be worse places than that he thought that maybe a real bed would feel pretty comfortable just then End of Chapter 8 Chapter 9 at the Tale of Peter Mink This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Lucy Burgoyne The Tale of Peter Mink by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 9 Helping Jimmy Rabbit Peter Mink was feeling even more peevish than usual and this was the reason Jimmy Rabbit had a new sled now Peter had never owned a sled and it made him envious to see what a good time Jimmy was having coasting down the side at Blue Mountain there was only one thing that Jimmy Rabbit did not like the sled it went so fast that he always fell off long before it reached the end of the slide I can fix that Peter Mink told him you go home and borrow your father's hammer and a few nails and I'll show you how you can coast way down into Pleasant Valley without once tumbling off Jimmy thanked him at home at once he dragged his new sled after him too but he was afraid that if he left it behind he might not be able to find Peter Mink or the sled either when he came back again but Peter did not seem to care perhaps he had something on his mind anyhow when Jimmy Rabbit returned with the hammer and in a few minutes Peter Mink was waiting patiently for him now then said Peter as he took the nails and the hammer you sit on the sled Jimmy and I'll fix you up in no time so Jimmy Rabbit sat down on his new sled and in a few minutes Peter Mink had nailed Jimmy's trousers fast to the sled you simply can't fall off Peter said I'll give you a push and the first thing you know you'll be down in the valley Jimmy Rabbit said to himself that Peter Mink was very bright to think of such a splendid plan as nailing his trousers to the sled he thanked Peter and he gripped the sled tightly though he didn't need to while Peter gave him a push that sent him flying down the mountain side though he went like the wind he never fell off once and soon he was down in Pleasant Valley skimming over the crust which covered the drifts in Farmer Green's meadow at last the sled stopped and then Jimmy Rabbit decided that Peter Mink had forgotten something how was he to get off the sled with his trousers nailed fast to it and what would his mother say when she saw the nail holes in his trousers and what would his father do when he saw the nails in Jimmy's new sled it was not very pleasant for Jimmy Rabbit sitting all alone in the meadow with such thoughts running through his head after he had sat there a while Jimmy heard something that worried him even more he heard Old Dog Spot barking and he saw that he would be in a good deal of a fix if spot should happen to come along and find him for he couldn't stir from his sled Jimmy began to hate that sled he wished he had never seen it and then he heard somebody scampering over the crust he was almost too frightened to look around to see who it was but he turned his head and he was glad to find that it was Peter Mink who had run all the way down from Blue Mountain you had a fine ride didn't you said Peter Mink yes Jimmy answered but I liked the beginning of it better than the end what's the matter Peter inquired I can't get off the sled Jimmy said Peter Mink pretended to be surprised and he said that he hadn't thought of that but I'll help you he promised Jimmy Rabbit thanked him but said Peter Mink I can't do all these things for you for nothing of course I have too much else to do wasting my time like this without pay what do you want Jimmy Rabbit asked him give me the sled said Peter Mink and I'll help you to get off it alright Jimmy agreed he would even have given Peter his wheelbarrow too he was so anxious to be freed from his seat I think though you might pull me up the mountain Jimmy added I don't feel like walking and that was quite true because he had been so frightened when he heard old spot barking that his legs were still shaking well said Peter Mink I'm pretty particular who rides on my sled but I'll pull you up the mountain because I'm going that way myself to slide and he started off dragging Jimmy Rabbit behind you end of chapter 9 chapter 10 of the tale of Peter Mink this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Lucy Burgoyne the tale of Peter Mink by Arthur Scott Bailey chapter 10 what could Peter do Peter Mink was pulling Jimmy Rabbit up the mountain side you remember that Jimmy had a new sled and that Peter had nailed Jimmy's trousers to the sled so he wouldn't fall off when he slipped down Blue Mountain but when Jimmy had coasted down into the meadow he found he could not get off the sled so Peter Mink had offered to help him if Jimmy would give him the sled in return for his kindness how do you like my new sled Peter Mink asked Jimmy Rabbit as he stopped to rest after climbing a steep slope but before Jimmy Rabbit could answer an alarming sound rung through the clear air and startled them both it was old dog spot baying as if he had found some very interesting tracks hurry Jimmy rather cried we don't want spot to catch us get off my sled Peter Mink ordered how can I run fast pulling a great fat fellow like you how can I get off Jimmy answered when I'm nailed fast to the sled I'll get you off said Peter and he took hold of Jimmy Rabbit's ears and began to pull as hard as he could but the sled only slipped along on the snow grabbed his sapling Peter Mink cried drawing Jimmy close to a small tree and I'll pull the sled but all his pulling did no more than to make Jimmy's arms ache for Jimmy was nailed so fast to the sled that he stuck to it or it stuck to him as if they were just one instead of two things I wish my mother hadn't made me wear such stout trousers Jimmy Rabbit said for once he wished he wore old ragged clothes like Peter's if he had he thought he might have torn himself away from the sled but now there seemed no hope for him because old spots forest sounded nearer every minute at last Peter Mink became so angry because Jimmy didn't get off the sled that he flew at him and began to pommel him when Peter threw himself upon Jimmy the sled began to move but Peter was so enraged he never noticed that until they were coasting down the mountain so fast that he didn't dare jump off once they struck something they couldn't see what it was because they were travelling like the wind but Jimmy Rabbit thought he heard a frightened sort of yelp again before they reached the foot of Blue Mountain they struck something else this time there was no yelp for they ran right into a big maple tree and Jimmy Rabbit felt himself sailing through the air until at last he landed on top of a big drift broke through the crust and sunk into the soft snow beneath he crawled quickly out of the drift and when he saw that he and the sled had parted company he was so delighted that he never minded his torn trousers he looked around and there was the sled as good as ever except for the nails Peter Mink had driven into it and there was Peter Mink lying very still beneath the maple tree though Jimmy listened he could not longer hear Old Spot baying that was because Old Spot was running home as fast as his legs would carry him he didn't know what it was that had struck him and he was frightened when Jimmy Rabbit saw Peter Mink slowly open one eye he knew that it wouldn't be long before Peter was himself again so Jimmy hurried back up the mountain pulling the sled after him the next day who should come to Jimmy's house but Peter Mink I've come for my sled he said what sled? asked Jimmy Rabbit why the one you gave me for getting you off it Peter answered but you didn't get me off the sled you don't even know how I got off so I certainly am not going to give you my sled and Peter Mink had to go away empty handed he didn't like it at all but what could he do? End of Chapter 10 Chapter 11 of the Tale of Peter Mink this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Lucy Burgoyne The Tale of Peter Mink by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 11 The Circus Parade if it hadn't been for the circus posters on Farmer Greens Barn the idea of having a circus parade would never have occurred to Jimmy Rabbit you see all those wonderful pictures set him thinking and he lost no time in inviting everybody to help he even invited Peter Mink though he was sorry afterwards that he had for a day or two everybody in the neighbourhood at Blue Mountain was as busy as he could be getting ready for the parade Cuffy Bear had promised to be the elephant because he was so big frisky squirrel was to be a wolf on account of his being so grey and Jimmy had invited Peter Mink to march as a giraffe for the reason that he had such a long neck and as for Jimmy Rabbit himself he said that he expected to be a little picture because he had heard that they had big ears I've heard that too remarked Billy Woodchuck but I never knew that a picture was an animal well you see you have a good deal to learn Jimmy Rabbit said then Tommy Fox murmured something about having heard that little pictures had big mouths too and that they always talked a great deal but Jimmy Rabbit made believe he didn't hear him everything would have been pleasant on the day of the parade if it hadn't been for Peter Mink he insisted that he must leave the procession and that made trouble at once because Jimmy Rabbit had expected to do that Peter finally settled the dispute a parade he said has two wins of course one person can't march at both ends at the same time so while I march at the front end Jimmy Rabbit could march at the other and that's perfectly fair at first Jimmy Rabbit looked quite glum but pretty soon he seemed to feel more cheerful and he said alright that was a great battle and much talking as the parade prepared to start remember Peter Mink warned everybody you must follow everywhere I go because I'm the leader at that Cuffy Bear seemed somewhat worried he knew that Peter Mink was fond of squeezing through narrow places and he didn't see how he could follow him but after a while Cuffy began to smile again right after Jimmy Rabbit had come and whispered something in his ear you see Jimmy went to everybody in the parade and whispered and last of all he went to Peter Mink and whispered in his ear too everybody must look straight ahead Jimmy told Peter because that's the way they always do don't you suppose I know that just as well as you do snap Peter Mink you'd better hurry back to the other end of the parade because I'm going to start in exactly 2 or 3 minutes I'm not sure which so Jimmy Rabbit hurried back as fast as he could he might have run faster if he hadn't stopped to wink at every person but he just managed to reach his place when the parade started then a queer thing happened when everybody had taken 10 steps the whole parade turned about in its tracks and started marching in the opposite direction and now Jimmy Rabbit led the procession instead of Peter Mink I said the whole parade went around but what I meant to say was everybody but Peter Mink you see Jimmy Rabbit had told Peter not to look back but to march straight ahead with his eyes to the front and naturally Peter Mink suppose that that was what Jimmy had whispered to everyone else so away Peter Mink marched as he could and feeling very proud too because he thought the parade was following him end of chapter 11 chapter 12 of the tale of Peter Mink this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Lucy Burgoyne the tale of Peter Mink by Arthur Scott Bailey chapter 12 Peter learns a new word while Peter Mink marched on believing that the circus parade was following him when Jimmy Rabbit had actually led it away in the opposite direction Peter kept trying to think of some trick he could play on the parade he decided at last that he would hunt around until he found the smallest hole he could possibly squeeze through and he would squirm through it and then have fun watching the others try to follow him finally he found a log which lay upon a rocky ledge between the log and the rock there was a narrow opening and when he saw that Peter knew it was a very place he had been looking for without once glancing around he thrust his head through the crack then something happened Peter Mink always claimed afterwards that the log settled a bit lower or the rock rose a bit higher anyhow to his astonishment he found himself stuck fast under the log such a thing had never happened to him before well he said to himself there are plenty of people here to help me anyhow you see he hadn't discovered that the whole parade except him had turned about and followed Jimmy Rabbit Peter Mink thought it was strange that nobody came and offered to help him and soon he began to shout still no one came and Peter began to wish that he hadn't tried to play a trick on the parades that he saw that he was in something very like a trap in fact it was a trap which Johnny Green had set but Peter didn't know that if he had he would have been even more worried than he was it was bad enough just to imagine what would happen if old dog spot should come along and find him Jimmy Rabbit had a fine time leading the parade you may be sure he looked around at the procession following him and he shouted a good many orders too telling different ones just what they should the parade had marched through the woods for a long time and Jimmy was about to stop and tell everybody that the fun was over when he saw all at once that it was really just going to begin for right in front of him he saw his friend Peter Mink pinned fast beneath the log you've been long enough coming to help me get this log off me you people and be quick about it brownie beaver left his place in the parade and hurried forward because he knew more about handling logs than anybody else there but before he could get his coat off Jimmy Rabbit called him one side and whispered to him and then Jimmy whispered to everybody else and the parade disbanded then everybody crowded around Peter Mink what is it you want Jimmy Rabbit asked Peter what? Peter Mink screamed are you blind can't you see this great log on top of me can't you get it off what are you waiting for ah said Jimmy Rabbit we are waiting for just one thing we haven't heard a jet heard it Peter Mink snarled aren't your ears big enough to hear everything we're going to teach you something said Jimmy and until you've learned the lesson we're going to leave you right where you are you should have heard Peter Mink then or rather you're lucky you didn't hear him for the way he went on something dreadful but until Jimmy Rabbit heard what he was waiting for he wouldn't let anyone roll the log off Peter finally it grew so late that some of the paraders said they would have to be going home pretty soon and then Billy Woodchuck remarked that he didn't believe Peter Mink had the least idea what they were waiting for I think we ought to tell him Billy said so Jimmy Rabbit told Peter what it was I don't know what it means said Peter well say it anyhow Jimmy Rabbit ordered and after this whenever you want anybody to do anything for you don't forget to say it it wouldn't do you a bit of harm to practice saying it every day for a while until you get used to it Peter Mink looked as if he would have liked to do something to Jimmy Rabbit and for a long time he refused to obey but when Brownie Beaver said that he simply must go home because it was so late Peter Mink said what Jimmy had been waiting for it was please no doubt you guessed it long ago end of chapter 12 chapter 13 at the tail of Peter Mink this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Lucy Burgoyne the tale of Peter Mink by Arthur Scott Bailey chapter 13 good news about Peter yes they say he has at last decided to go to work Mrs. Rabbit was saying to Billy Woodchuck's mother it's the best news I've heard in a long while Mrs. Woodchuck remarked and I hope he'll be so busy that he won't have time to come around here and get our sons into any more mischief have you learned what his work is going to be? Mrs. Rabbit inquired but Mrs. Woodchuck said she didn't know that she only knew that Peter Mink was going to turn over a new leap and do some sort of honest work now Peter Mink had a plan and he hadn't told anyone exactly what it was the Grouse Boys and the Woodchuck Brothers gave a concert that very night you see Mr. Fox had taught them to make music like a knife and drum corpse the Grouse Boys drummed and the Woodchuck Brothers whistled and whenever they gave a concert almost everybody went to it well when the forest people reached the hollow the concert was to be given there was Peter Mink all smiles he stepped up to each newcomer and said check your hat and coat some of the forest people didn't know what he meant until Peter explained to them that he would take care of hats, coats, umbrellas walking sticks or anything else that anybody might like to leave during the concert how are you going to find my hat if I leave it with you Mr. Rabbit asked Peter Mink showed him a heap of oak leaves I'll tear one of these in two, he said give you half of it and stick the other half inside your hat band when the concert is over and you come away all you have to do is take half of the oak leaf and I'll see which piece matches it among those that I have kept and the hat in which the other half happens to be stuck must be your hat do you understand it's quite simple, Peter said Mr. Rabbit said that he understood and that it was a good idea too but he thought he'd keep his hat with him in a low voice that he ought to do whatever he could to help Peter Mink now that Peter has gone to work she told her husband everyone ought to encourage him and I want you to leave your hat with him I'll have him check my spectacles as he calls it Mr. Rabbit added that I shall not need them I can hear exactly as well Mr. Rabbit always tried to please his wife so he let Peter Mink check his hat but he felt uncomfortable during the whole concert it was a new hat and he didn't like the thought of losing it the same thing happened in a good many families most of the gentlemen said that Peter's idea was a good one but they thought he'd wait till another time and their wives generally persuaded them to let Peter Mink check something just to help him along but Uncle Jerry Chuck refused to leave a single thing with Peter he said he had had his hat for a great many years the music was not so good as usual that night and when the 5th and Drum Corps pop goes the weasel which was their favourite tune and the first they had ever learned they had to stop in the middle of it three times and begin again because there were so many interruptions people kept standing up in their seats and looking around to see if Peter Mink was still there and almost everybody except Uncle Jerry Chuck seemed worried but Uncle Jerry had a fine time you see whenever the 5th and Drummers had to stop and begin again Uncle Jerry felt he was getting more music and he enjoyed it especially because he had found his ticket in the woods and didn't have to pay for it and on account of what happened when the concert was over Uncle Jerry was even happier the next day end of chapter 13 chapter 14 of the tale of Peter Mink this is a Librebox recording all Librebox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Librebox.org this reading by Lucy Burgoyne the tale of Peter Mink chapter 14 Uncle Jerry helps the concert given by the Grouse Boys and the Woodchuck brothers came to an end early Billy Woodchuck who was one of the 5thers because he was such a good whistler made a short speech we shall hope to stop now he said because so many people keep bobbing up and looking around that they make us nervous maybe the piece we just played didn't sound quite right so I want to explain that each of us was playing a different tune we were so upset and of course we can't keep on then he made a low bow all at once there was a great rush toward the place where Peter Mink was waiting with the hats and sticks umbrellas and spectacles coats and rubbers and other things that he had checked for the people who came to the concert when Peter Mink saw everybody hurrying up all at the same time the smile faded from his face don't crowd he begged them there's something here for everybody he took the half oak leaf that Mr Rabbit handed to him he looked around until he found another half that seemed to match it and since that other half was stuck in an old umbrella he gave the umbrella to Mr Rabbit but I didn't leave an umbrella with you I left a hat Mr Rabbit cried Peter Mink shook his head you must be mistaken he replied you said yourself you remember now Mr Rabbit didn't intend to lose his new hat so he began to hunt for it though Peter Mink told him to stand back that was only the first of a number of disputes there was Mr Woodchuck he had left his favourite walking stick with Peter and all he received in its place was one worn out rubber with a hole in it old Mr Crow made a terrible noise when Peter Mink tried to make him take an overcoat that was at least four times too big for him and Peter insisted on attempting to squeeze Patty Coon into a coat that was 23 sizes too small for him and which really belonged to Sandy Chipmunk there was such an uproar with all the people complaining and trying to find their own things that Peter Mink began to think he had better leave before he found himself in worse trouble so he slipped away and nobody noticed that he was gone because there was such confusion it was a long time before everybody went home and even then there were many who weren't satisfied for instance there was Mrs Rabbit to be sure she found a pair of spectacles but they weren't the ones she had given Peter and she couldn't see through them very well Uncle Jerry Chuck did everything he could to help he pushed right in where the crowd was thickest and poured over everything he could find there were some unkind people who were objective and said that he had no business there because Peter Mink had checked nothing for him but that made no difference to Uncle Jerry he wouldn't leave until he was ready to go and the next day he appeared in a brand new hat he said that his old one had really become shabby but whenever anyone asked him where he got his new hat to hear and hurried away and after that people liked him even less than they had before as for Peter Mink he never tried to work again some of the forest people said that he had never meant to work anyhow they claimed that he had mixed up everything on purpose to play a trick on people and for a long time no one saw Peter Mink in that neighbourhood Mr Rabbit said that that was the only pleasant part of the whole affair End of Chapter 14 Chapter 15 of the Tale of Peter Mink This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Lucy Burgoyne The Tale of Peter Mink by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 15 Peter's New Coat Perhaps you never heard how Mr Mink lost his tale in the woods and how Jimmy Rabbit found it and wore it until Mr Mink came along and took the tale away from him Peter Mink knew all about it anyhow for Mr Mink was his uncle and Peter knew that Jimmy Rabbit was still on the lookout for a fine bushy tale so one day when Peter met Jimmy Rabbit he told Jimmy that if he would go to a certain place near Broadbrook he might find something that would interest him you'll find a small place where the earth has been stirred up if you look exactly where I tell you to there's something hidden there and I won't say just what it is it might be a tale and then again it might not Peter told him anyhow if you go and dig in that spot I know you won't hurry away when you find what's there now Jimmy Rabbit ought to have known Peter Mink well enough to suspect that there was something wrong but the moment he heard the word tale he couldn't start for Broadbrook fast enough it took him some time to find the place Peter Mink had described for a light snow had covered the ground but at last Jimmy discovered the loose earth exactly as Peter had said Jimmy Rabbit was just going to dig when someone called his name and he jumped back quickly and looked all around at first he could see no one but after a moment he saw someone beckoning to him it was Paddy Mascaret he had crawled out of the brook just in time to stop Jimmy Rabbit before it was too late what are you going to do Paddy Mascaret asked I'm going to dig in this dirt Jimmy explained I believe there's a tale hidden there I need one you know and Peter Mink told me Peter Mink Paddy interrupted I'd advise you to have nothing to do with Peter Mink because sooner or later he'll get you into trouble do you know what's hidden beneath that dirt I'll tell you there's a trap Johnny Groon said it there thinking he could catch me in it but I saw him when he buried it and I wouldn't go near it for anything as soon as Jimmy heard the word trap he couldn't get away from that place fast enough he turned and ran off in great bounds and he never even stopped to thank Paddy Mascaret for warning him it's not like Jimmy at all but you see he was frightened Paddy Mascaret was a wise little chap and though he had said he wouldn't go near the trap for anything he thought it was about time somebody fixed the trap so it couldn't do any harm and very carefully he scraped the dirt away from it there he said to himself now everybody can see it and no one will get caught then he jumped into broad brook again and swung away not long afterwards a slim figure came stealing through the woods it was Peter Mink and he had a bag in his hand he expected to use the bag too but he was sure that he would find Jimmy Rabbit fast in the trap and he intended to put him in the bag and drag him away Peter was disappointed when he saw that the trap was empty and he wondered what had happened well he's the bag anyhow he said to himself I've got that and he sat down and made a hole in the bag for his head and two more for his arms and drew the bag on it fitted him very well why? here I've got a new coat he said I see now that the bag would have been too small to hold Jimmy Rabbit so it's just as well he didn't get caught in the trap and Peter Mink walked away he liked his new coat but probably it wasn't the kind you would care for at all end of chapter 15 chapter 16 at the tail of Peter Mink this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Lucy Vergoin The Tale of Peter Mink by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 16 The Duck Pond sometimes Peter Mink was tired of not knowing where he was going to sleep and now on then when he happened to be in some neighbourhood that he liked he would try to find a place where he might stay until he felt like roaming on again there was one neighbourhood that Peter liked very much he often said that of all the places in Pleasant Valley that he knew anything about was charming as Farmer Green's duck pond the reason for his thinking that was that he was specially fond of duck meat and of course it was convenient to be able to swim underwater and steal upon a fat duck and seize her before she knew that Peter was anywhere near now Peter Mink learned that there was a muskrat in the house in the bank of the duck pond and as soon as Peter found out where the muskrat's home was he drove away the owner and began to live in the house himself he found it very comfortable and he called a duck every day until at last Farmer Green noticed that his ducks were disappearing I believe it's a Mink that's taking them to his son Johnny if it was a coon he'd steal more than just one a day now you take the old gun and go down to the pond and hide and when I let the ducks go out for their swim I want you to watch for a Mink naturally Peter Mink didn't hear what Farmer Green said if he had no doubt he would have left the muskrat's house and moved on to some other neighbourhood early the next morning Johnny Green put the old gun on his shoulder and stole down to the edge of the duck pond where he hid among some cat tails he kept his sharp eyes on the bank of the pond for the ducks were just fiddling down from the barnyard to enjoy their morning swim as sharp as Johnny's eyes were they did not see Peter Mink as he crept out of his house and stretched himself in the sun Peter had fallen into the habit of sleeping late and awaking each morning just as the ducks reached the pond he saw them as they picked their way down the bank and for once he didn't seem to care anything about them to tell the truth but he had breakfasted on ducks so often that he had at last grown a bit tired of duck meat and now he thought that for a change an eel would taste good for the first time since Peter had driven the muskrat from his home the ducks were safe Peter paid no attention to them and unnoticed by Johnny Green he slipped into the water and swum quickly to a place in the pond where there was a warm spring he knew that the warm water rose to the top of the pond and he knew as well that if an eel should happen to swim over the spring the rising water would bear him to the surface of the duck pond Peter Mink must have been a lucky fellow for he had hardly reached the spring when he saw the eel right in front of him he seized the eel and swum toward the bank and there was such a commotion in the water that Johnny Green couldn't help noticing it you see the eel did not want to leave the duck pond he had always lived there and he liked it too so he twisted and squirmed trying his hardest to break away from Peter Mink that Peter swum steadily on though to be sure he couldn't swim very fast dragging such a slippery fellow along with him but finally he reached the shore and then he pulled the eel out of the water still the eel tried to get away from him he wound himself about Peter Mink and several times he managed to throw Peter head over heels but Peter Mink always rushed upon the eel again before he could wriggle into the pond all this time Johnny Green had entirely forgotten about his gun he had never seen such a fight before and he looked on with staring eyes until at last Peter dragged the eel away from the pond and into some bushes then Johnny Green remembered why his father had sent him down to the duck pond and he ran forward all ready to shoot but Peter Mink had vanished he had heard Johnny running and that was enough to send him skipping away Peter was disappointed because he lost his breakfast and Johnny Green was disappointed because he lost Peter in fact of all those present the ducks seemed to be the only ones that were really contented they had a fine swim and when night came not one of them was missing End of Chapter 16 Chapter 17 of the Tale of Peter Mink this is a Libra Box recording all Libra Box recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibraBox.org this reading by Lucy Burgoyne The Tale of Peter Mink by Arthur Scott Bailey Chapter 17 How to be Lucky there was one thing that Peter Mink couldn't understand no matter how hard he tried to get Jimmy Rabbit into trouble Jimmy always managed to escape Peter wondered what the reason might be and one day he said to Jimmy why is it that you're always able to get out of a scrape don't you know Jimmy Rabbit asked him I thought everybody knew that it's because I'm lucky oh I know that said Peter Mink I'd like to know is what makes you so lucky I suppose everybody knew that too Jimmy Rabbit answered it's because I have the left hind foot of a rabbit Peter Mink answered that he didn't see what that had to do with being lucky you ask anybody about it Jimmy told him there's Mr Crow over on the fence go and ask him I'm lucky so Peter Mink went over to the fence where Mr Crow was resting and put the question to him oh ask me something hard Mr Crow cried that's too easy everybody knows that one for once Peter Mink remembered the word Jimmy Rabbit had taught him when he was caught beneath the big log please I'd really like to know Mr Crow left hind foot Mr Crow replied briefly it's the rabbits you know and there's nothing like him to bring luck that said Peter Mink to thinking he couldn't help wishing that he might have Jimmy's left hind foot for himself it ought to bring luck to him he thought just as it did to Jimmy Rabbit after Peter Mink had thought the matter over for some time he said to Jimmy I wish you'd come over to the creek with me there's something there that I want to show you of course it's a long way off and maybe your mother wouldn't like to have you go so far from home oh come Jimmy Rabbit said quickly maybe you'd better ask your mother first the Jimmy Rabbit shook his head that wouldn't do any good he replied let's be on our way so Peter Mink started off toward the creek with Jimmy close behind him at last they reached the bank of the creek the water was low and before them was a stretch of mud which looked dry and firm there were a few weeds growing in it and it certainly looked harmless enough what is it you're going to show me Jimmy asked follow me you'll see pretty soon what it is and he jumped off the bank and landed lightly on his feet in the mud flat and started on again it never once entered Jimmy Rabbit's head so he jumped off the bank too and to his great surprise his legs sank entirely out of sight in the mud you see he was at least four times heavier than Peter Mink and when he landed on the thin sun-baked crust that covered the mud flat he had broken through it Jimmy Rabbit had a terrible feeling that he was going right down until the mud closed over his head help, he shrieked help, help but Peter Mink walked straight on he never once looked around and no Jimmy Rabbit called and called he couldn't seem to make Peter Mink hear him end of chapter 17 chapter 18 of the tale of Peter Mink this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Lucy Burgoyne the tale of Peter Mink by Arthur Scott Bailey chapter 18 a bargain stuck fast in the mud as he was Jimmy Rabbit couldn't do a thing except shout or you might spy there were only two things he could do shouting being one of them and keeping still being the other at first Jimmy couldn't help calling out at the top of his lungs that Peter Mink, you remember didn't appear to hear him and these seemed to be no one else near after a time Jimmy Rabbit grew so hoarse that he stopped shouting for help and tried to think of some way in which he might escape it occurred to him that if he could only manage to get his left hind foot free of the mud that was his lucky foot, you know perhaps he would be able to crawl out somehow with his lucky foot buried deep in the mud and quite out of sight Jimmy thought it was not at all strange that he had not been able to free himself so he tried to raise his left hind foot at first the mud actually seemed to suck it deeper as he tried but after a long time Jimmy succeeded in lifting that foot the least bit and he was pleased until that his other hind foot had only sunk further into the mire at last he happened to look up and there on the bank gazing down at him stood Peter Mink what are you doing down there Peter Mink called why didn't you follow me as I told you to I fell into this mud Jimmy Rabbit told him and I called and called to you couldn't you hear me the wind was blowing said Peter and anyone can see that that was no answer at all well if you had looked around you could have seen what happened to me Jimmy Rabbit complained the sun was shining in my eyes Peter Mink told him and I shouldn't say that this answer of Peter's was any better than the first well you can help me out this bulk anyhow Jimmy Rabbit said so please give me your hand I'm pretty tired of being stuck here but Peter Mink never stood where's your lucky left hind foot he asked I should think that could help you out if anything could the trouble is said Jimmy Rabbit my left hind foot is so deep in this mire that I can't pull it up where it can do me any good at all it's the first time I've ever known it to fail me and you can't really blame the foot either for it hasn't a chance I don't suppose it even knows what a fix I'm in still Peter Mink made no move what are you waiting for Jimmy inquired I've been here long enough maybe you have for you said Peter Mink bet you haven't been there long enough to suit me and he pretended to start to go away Jimmy Rabbit called to him I'll give you something if you'll help me he said Peter turned around there's just one thing you can give me he said that will make me willing to pull you out of the mud Jimmy asked him your left hind foot Peter Mink told him I need a lucky foot I'm always getting into trouble as some sort and a rabbit's left hind foot would be a great help to me unless I happen to get stuck in the mud he added with a sly smile Jimmy Rabbit knew then that Peter Mink had meant all the time to lead him into that mud he knew that Peter had meant all the time to get his left hind foot away from him that he didn't let Peter Mink know that he knew you can have my left hind foot Jimmy Rabbit said on two conditions you must always carry it in your pocket and you'll have to agree to take along with the foot all the luck and everything else that goes with it Jimmy Mink quickly agreed to that and Jimmy Rabbit said it was a bargain and that something awful always happened to people that didn't stand by their bargains well, after that Peter jumped down and pulled Jimmy Rabbit out of the mud now said Peter Mink as soon as they had climbed up the bank again the next thing to do was take your left hind foot and he was much surprised when Jimmy Rabbit began to laugh I don't see anything funny about it Peter Mink growled of course you don't said Jimmy I didn't expect you to and I don't expect you're going to cut my foot off because you agreed not to I never did anything of the kind Peter Mink shouted you're going to ask Mr Crow what he thinks about it Jimmy Rabbit said we'll leave it to him end of chapter 18 chapter 19 at the tail of Peter Mink this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Lucy Burgoyn the tail of Peter Mink by Arthur Scott Bailey chapter 19 settling a dispute while Jimmy Rabbit was looking for wise old Mr Crow Peter Mink stuck close behind him you needn't think you can run away with my rabbit's left lucky hind foot Peter kept saying that's my foot you promised to give it to me for helping you out of the mud and I intend to have it I'm going to fire you wherever you go I wish you'd try to be a little more careful where you step with my foot but Jimmy Rabbit didn't seem the least bit worried you stand by your bargain and I'll stand by mine he told Peter and that was all he would say at last Jimmy found Mr Crow and as soon as Peter Mink spied him he hurried up and began to complain to Mr Crow that Jimmy Rabbit wouldn't stand by his bargain what was it Mr Crow asked he promised to give me his left hind foot if I'd pull him out of the creek said Peter Mink did he pull you out Mr Crow asked Jimmy Rabbit and Jimmy admitted that Peter had helped him out he helped me in too at a Jimmy but I didn't have to pay him for doing that you're out of order Mr Crow told Jimmy sharply and looking down at his mud stone clothes Jimmy Rabbit said that he supposed he was can you repeat the exact words of the bargain Mr Crow asked Peter Mink yes Peter began he said that will do Mr Crow cautioned him I said can you repeat them I didn't tell you to repeat them did I no Peter Mink admitted I advise you to be very careful Mr Crow warned him then Mr Crow turned to Jimmy Rabbit repeat the exact words of the bargain he asked yes sir said Jimmy Rabbit promptly good Mr Crow exclaimed I'll settle this dispute in no time now I want you Jimmy to whisper the exact words in my right ear while Peter Mink whispers the exact words in my left one I shall know it once if there's anybody that isn't telling the truth Mr Crow was very particular he made Peter and Jimmy begin at the same time and he said that if they both told the truth it seemed to him that they ought to finish at the same time too and that's just the way it happened I don't see what the dispute is with Mr Crow you both agree and how can two people have a dispute when they agree perfectly the only difference I noticed in your stories was that Peter whispered much louder than Jimmy the trouble Peter Mink cried the trouble is he won't let me cut off his left hind foot Mr Crow looked astonished you agreed to take along with the foot all the luck and everything else that goes with it and if the rest of Jimmy Rabbit doesn't go with his left foot why? I should like to know what does Peter Mink looked very sour but pretty soon he brightened up all right he said I get the whole of him then don't I said Mr Crow and what's more you have to carry him in your pocket for that was part of the bargain now when you stop to remember that Jimmy Rabbit was four times bigger than Peter Mink you can understand how angry Peter must have been he saw right away that such a thing was impossible I can't do that he cried he shared the agreement to be broken said Mr Crow and I advised Jimmy Rabbit to run home at once for I happen to know that his mother is looking for him afterward Peter Mink always claimed that there was no use trying to get the better of anybody that had the left hind foot over Rabbit he said that they certainly were lucky and that he knew what he was talking about end of the time