 CHAPTER 31 Well just as soon as Billy Bunny said he wanted an American flag for his well-ship, as I told you in the last story, the captain gave him a beautiful red, white, and blue flag, with silver stars on the blue part. And, goodness gracious me, you should have heard all the sailor-boys cheer, and, as for the whale, he tossed his tail up in the air and shouted, Hip hip hooray, I'll sail the ocean way, upon its billows white and green, our starry flag shall now be seen. With Billy Bunny on my back, a captain brave I shall not lack, oh, I'm a jolly jolly whale, and laughed at tempest, storm, or gale. Hurrah hooray, cried the little rabbit, saluting the captain with his right forepaw. Then he hopped down the rope ladder to his well-ship, and away he went, the whale spouting great high streams of water, and tossing his tail up, and singing, Three cheers for the red, white, and blue, Billy Bunny on his well-ship so true, we will sail, or the sea, he's the captain for me. Then you'll laugh at the things we'll do. Just then, all of a sudden, quicker than a flipper could flip. Excuse me if I stop at this exciting place, to tell you that a flipper is a fish's foot. A wicked swordfish rushed at the whale. Oh dear, oh dear, the whale couldn't dive into the water and hide, for he had the little rabbit on his back, and he couldn't turn around quick enough, for he was too big, and he couldn't fly up into the air like a flying fish, for he had no wings. So what could he do? Well, sir, you'd hardly believe it, but Billy Bunny took a rubber boot from his knapsack, and just as the dreadful swordfish was going to stick his sword into the whale, the little rabbit slipped the rubber boot over it, and the swordfish bounced back, and the whale wasn't hurt the least bit. Now wasn't that lucky? Well, I just guess it was. If it hadn't been for that rubber boot, the whale ship would have been torpedoed, and the little rabbit drowned. Now, if the ocean waves don't blow, and the salt water doesn't get into Billy Bunny's ears, I'll tell you in the next story more about Billy Bunny and the whale. CHAPTER 32 Of course the swordfish swam away with Billy Bunny's rubber boot on his sword, but one can't go into a fight without losing something, and it was lucky the little rabbit didn't lose both his boots. Well, anyway, the whale was so thankful that the wicked swordfish hadn't cut a big hole in his side that he said he'd buy Billy Bunny a new pair of rubber boots. I think I can get them at the lighthouse over there. Yankee Doodle Billy Bunny riding on a whale stuck his rubber boot upon the wicked swordfish tail. Wait a moment, please. What he meant was that Billy Bunny had stuck it on his sword. When a whale spouts poetry, he's liable to say, most anything, you know. By and by they came to the lighthouse, and the keeper asked them what they wanted. Have you any rubber boots? Asked the whale. And then he told the man what Billy Bunny had done, and the lighthouse keeper laughed so hard that the tears ran down his cheeks and put out his pipe. Then he went inside the lighthouse and brought out a little pair of rubber boots. These here boots belong to my little boy, but you can have them, he said, for I never heard of so brave a bunny in my time. Then the whale swam off, and Billy Bunny stood up on his back and sang to the lighthouse keeper, Keep your big lamp burning bright, through the dark and stormy night, so the sailor boy can guide, save his boat upon the tide. Let the light shine strong and free, far across the pathless sea, so that neither wind nor foam keep the sailor from his home. After this the whale took the little rabbit back to the land, and as Billy Bunny went one way and the whale the other, by and by they were so far apart they couldn't see each other. And then something happened to the little rabbit. A male wagon almost ran over him. You see Billy Bunny was so excited, he didn't hear it coming at all. I wonder if there's a letter for me. And then, all of a sudden, he hopped after the wagon and jumped up on the little step at the back, and there right in front of him was a package marked Master William Bunny, Old Briar Patch, Snake Fence Corner. It's for me, shouted the little rabbit. The driver almost jumped off his seat, for the little bunny's shout frightened him nearly to death. Yes, it's for you, said the postman driver. I thought you were a robber holding me up. I have to be mighty careful of Uncle Sam's letters these days. The little rabbit boy opened the package, and what do you think he found? You would never guess, so I'll tell you right off. It was a big gold watch and chain, and it was from Uncle Lucky left behind foot. Uncle Lucky, as he was always called, for he was very rich, and of course, he was very lucky to be rich. Now, isn't that nice, said Billy Bunny to himself, and he opened the little note that came with it, and read, To my dear nephew William Bunny, from Uncle Lucky, I'll go right off now and thank him, thought the little rabbit, and away he hopped. And by and by, just as he reached the road that led to his uncle's house, a big storm came up. The rain fell in buckets full, and the lightning crashed, and Willie Wind broke off the tops of the trees. The little rabbit was so scared that he hopped into a hollow stump. Who are you? cried a gruff voice. And if the raindrops didn't turn into gumdrops and break the windows in the candy store, I'll tell you in the next story who the gruff voice belonged to. Chapter 33 Who are you? cried the gruff voice again, as the little rabbit boy hopped into the hollow stump to get out of the rain. It's me, Billy Bunny. Oh, it's you, is it? And an old owl closed the door with the bang. There it's locked, said the old owl, turning the key and putting it in his vest pocket. The people will come into my house without knocking, they shan't get out so easily. Oh, please, Mr. Owl, cried the little bunny boy. I didn't know it was your house, and it was raining so hard that I just popped in to get out of the wet. I didn't mean to stay and bother you. No bother at all. I assure you, said the old owl. In fact, I'm glad you came. I won't have to go out now for my supper. I'm very fond of little rabbits, very fond indeed. Now wasn't this an awful thing to have said to you? It made the little rabbit's flesh creep, and his hair stand on end. Just then there was an awful crash, and a big tree fell on top of the stump, and broke it right in two. Out jumped the little rabbit, and hopped away as fast as he could. The rain had stopped, and across the sky was a beautiful rainbow. And at one end of it rested right in the chimney of Uncle Lucky's house. Oh, me oh my, said little Billy Bunny. Isn't Uncle Left Hindfoot lucky? I'll bet anything that's the end of the rainbow that has the pot of gold, and I'll find it on the hearth when I get to the house. So we hurried along as fast as he could, and when he got inside, he was so excited that he forgot to say how do you do to Uncle Lucky, or to thank him for the gold watch and chain. He just ran into the kitchen to see if the pot of gold had fallen down the chimney. And sure enough it had. There it was on the top of the kitchen stove. And if Uncle Lucky had not taken it off mighty quick, the gold would have been melted into a thick soup. Only of course it wouldn't be good to eat. Well, well, cried Uncle Lucky, I'm glad I sent you the gold watch and chain, for if you hadn't come to see me, I never would have found the pot of gold until it had all burnt up. And if the rainbow doesn't shoot a pink and blue arrow into the sun, so he wouldn't be able to get up tomorrow morning, I'll tell you in the next story more about Billy Bunny and Uncle Lucky. CHAPTER 34 When Uncle Lucky looked in the pot of gold, which the rainbow had dropped down the chimney, he found that it was full of $10 gold pieces, so he took out a big handful and gave them to Billy Bunny. Now you have gold dollars as well as a gold watch and chain, so you must always love your Uncle Lucky. Then the old gentleman rabbit got his automobile out and took Billy Bunny for a ride. It was the first time the little bunny boy had ridden in an automobile, and it was lots of fun. After they had gone a long ways, they came to the old farm. I'm going to buy some fresh eggs, said Uncle Lucky, but little Henny Jenny couldn't change the $10 gold piece. Well, I'll take $10 worth of eggs then, said Uncle Lucky, so they filled up the back of the automobile with eggs, and as there weren't enough of Henny Jenny's, they got some from Goosey Lucy and Mrs. Duck. The automobile was now full, and Uncle Lucky started for home. But oh dear me, something awful happened. The automobile began to run from side to side, and the next instant bang! It went right into a tree. All the eggs flew out, and some hit Uncle Lucky, and some hit the little rabbit boy, and others hit the tree and splattered all over everything. And Uncle Lucky looked like a poached egg, and Billy Bunny like an omelet. It took them two hours and forty-nine minutes and nine hundred and fifty seconds to clean themselves, and then they weren't clean. And the automobile? Well, by this time the old gentleman rabbit was so tired that he had to sit down and rest. By and by they started to clean the automobile, but they used so much gasoline there wasn't any left, so of course it wouldn't go. Well, this is a nice pickle, said Uncle Lucky. I'll have to change my name, or get a new automobile. The two don't go together any more. Just then, who should come along but the circus elephant? I'll push it home for you, he said. Get in and steer. So Uncle Lucky grabbed the steering wheel, and the little rabbit boy jumped in the back seat to watch the elephant, and pretty soon they were safe home at Uncle Lucky's. And if our black cat doesn't shave off his whiskers with my safety razor so he can't tickle the little grey mouse, I'll tell you next time about Billy Bunny and the elephant. Chapter 35 I think I'll take a little trip with my friend the elephant, said Billy Bunny, as he said goodbye to Uncle Lucky. The little rabbit and the big elephant hadn't gone so very far when they came to a traveling photographer. His picture gallery was on wheels, and the old grey horse that pulled it from place to place was eating the grass close by. Let's have our pictures taken, said Billy Bunny. It took the elephant almost five minutes to squeeze through the door, and the photographer said if anything was broken he wouldn't take their pictures, so the elephant was very careful and that was the reason it took him so long to squeeze through. The man then got out his biggest camera and put the black cloth over his head and looked through the peak hole, but he couldn't see Billy Bunny at all. Where are you little rabbit, he called, while he turned something round and round on the front of the camera. Here I am, cried the little bunny boy, and sure enough he was there all right, only he was hidden behind the elephant's foot. Then the picture man pulled his head out from under the black cloth and came over and fixed the little rabbit, so he would be taken all right, and as the elephant wouldn't keep his head still, but kept swinging it back and forth just the way he did in the circus, the picture man got out an iron head rest and placed it back of the elephant's head and screwed it tight so that he couldn't wiggle his head and spoil the picture. Then the photographer said, now look pleasant if you please and be sure you do not sneeze. Hold your trunk up like a rifle, Billy Bunny, smile a trifle, watch for birdie if you please till the rubber ball I squeeze. After that he went into a dark room, while Billy Bunny and the elephant looked at the pictures of Daddy Fox and his family. When the photographer was finished, Billy Bunny and the elephant thought they looked lovely in the little pink frames, but before they left the photographer took off the door so that the elephant wouldn't have to squeeze so hard to go out. Your camera takes a very good picture, said Billy Bunny, which pleased the traveling photographer very much. And if his camera didn't take the measles before tomorrow so that it has to call in the doctor bird, I'll tell you next time. Well, just wait and see, for I don't know myself, just this minute, what is going to happen? After Billy Bunny and the elephant left the photograph gallery, they traveled along for some time without meeting with any adventure. All of a sudden a voice saying from a treetop, Kerlu, Kerlu, Kerlu, who's that? cried the little rabbit. He didn't know it was a killy-loo bird, neither did the elephant. Who are you? asked the bunny boy. I'm killy-loo, the rainbow bird. My eyes are pink and my bill is blue and my feathers shine with a yellow hue. Some people say it is absurd to be such a many-colored bird, but that's the reason I'll tell to you they call me the rainbow killy-loo. Fly away, you old feathered paint-box, cried the elephant crossly, then he and the little rabbit went off. But they hadn't gone very far when a green snake glided out of its hole. He took the end of his tail in his mouth and said to the little rabbit, Roll me like a hoop, but Billy Bunny was afraid, so the big elephant picked up the snake and rolled him along with his trunk for a hoop stick. And this made two little squirrels laugh so hard that they fell off the tree right on top of the elephant, then they began to turn somersaults on his back. And this made little Billy Bunny think he ought to do something more, so he jumped over backwards and stood on his head. While all this was going on, who should come by but a tin peddler, who took out a little tin trumpet and began playing lovely dance music? Well, you should have been there, it was splendid, just like the circus. By and by the tin peddler said, If I can find enough tent cloth in my bag, I'll make a big tent and will have a regular circus, and if the conductor doesn't charge five cents extra for ringing the bell every time a passenger gets off the car, I'll tell you in the next story why the elephant wouldn't belong to the tin peddler's circus. CHAPTER 37 Already belong to a circus, said the elephant, when the tin peddler began looking for the tin cloth in his bag, I won't join another, not if you paid me my weight in gold. In that case we won't have a circus, said the peddler, for what would a circus be without an elephant? By this time everybody was tired anyway, so Billy Bunny and the elephant said good-bye and started off again on their travels. Let me see, said the elephant, I've been away three days of my week's vacation, so there are only four left. We had better make the most of them, then, said little Billy Bunny, for I shall be sorry to lose so fine a fellow as you. It was now noontime, so they sat down to eat their lunch. The little rabbit opened his napsack and took out a bottle of lemon soda, two carrots and a bag of peanuts, and he and the elephant had all they wanted to eat. By and by they both fell sound asleep. And then what do you suppose happened? A big eagle flew by and picked up the elephant in his great strong claws. If the little rabbit had only waked up in time he might have saved his big friend, but he didn't, that is, until about an hour after, and then it was too late. When the bunny-boy opened his eyes he was surprised not to see the elephant. He looked up into the tree and under a stone, but of course he couldn't find him. Just then he heard a little grasshopper say. As I was hopping down the grass a great big eagle overhead did pass. In his claws he held an elephant, which made the eagle gasp and pant. For the elephant weighed a ton, I guess, although he might have weighed a little less. Which way did they go, asked Billy Bunny. When he found out he hopped off as fast as he could to rescue his elephant friend. I am by he came to the foot of the high mountain where the eagle had his nest. And when the elephant saw him coming he took a little flag from his pocket and waved it. And when the big eagle saw the American flag he said, Three cheers for the red, white, and blue. Now I know you are both good and true. I will say, right away, I was only in play, for I am the bird, as you must have heard, who fights for the big USA. And he picked up the big elephant and carried him down safely to Billy Bunny. And if the lemon lollipop doesn't drop off its stick and roll under my typewriter, I'll tell you next time how the elephant unpacked his trunk. Chapter 38 Let me think. In the last story I promised to tell you how the elephant unpacked his trunk. Well, I can't. For when he got back to the circus he'd lost the key. But as that was the only piece of bad luck on his vacation, he didn't care very much. He just borrowed the clean collar from the monkey and started right in as if nothing had happened. Let's go back to little Billy Bunny. He was hopping along as usual when he came across his friend, the grasshopper. Didn't you find your elephant friend? Oh yes, replied the little rabbit. He is back at the circus. What are you going to do? I'll tell you, replied the grasshopper, listen to me. In the sweet by and by, when the sun is shining high, I shall sing a merry song, and shall sing it all day long. Happy little hopper I, in this wheat by and by. And now that I told you there's nothing more to say. And he hopped into the field. After little ways, not so very far, Billy Bunny came to a plowed field, and the first person he saw was Mr. Crow. He was just dropping down from a treetop. What are you going to do? asked Billy Bunny. Well, there's one thing I'm not going to do. Answered the old Crow, pointing to the farmer and his hired man, who were planting corn. I'm not going anywhere near them. And then Mr. Crow showed the little rabbit how to scratch up the yellow kernels, which were already planted. Just then, all of a sudden, bang, went something, and Mr. Crow fluttered and hopped off to the friendly forest. And so did Billy Bunny. But I don't mean he fluttered, he hopped, but lots better than Mr. Crow. And when they were safe among the trees, Mr. Crow said, I'm shot. Oh, dear me, said the little rabbit, I wish I were a doctor. But there wasn't any use in wishing, and pretty soon Mr. Crow became very sick. I'm going to die, I know it, he cried. Let me look at your wing, said Billy Bunny. For that was the place where the old Crow had been hit. But there wasn't even a scratch on it. When Mr. Crow learned this, he flapped his wings and said he felt better, and pretty soon he flew away. And, if the pepper box doesn't drop some pepper in the ice cream and make it cry so it won't freeze, I'll tell you next time about Billy Bunny and the Firefly. Well, that was a rude old bird, said little Billy Bunny, after the Crow flew off. He didn't even thank me for telling him he wasn't hurt. But I don't care, and the little bunny picked a big sunflower and struck it in his buttonhole. Then he hopped off down the road, and by and by he came to a robin tugging away at a big worm. But the worm wouldn't come out of his hole, and the robin wouldn't let go. So there they were tugging away as hard as they could. And I don't know who would have given in first if a big black cat hadn't made a jump for the pretty robin red breast. Did you ever see such luck, said the cat, as the robin flew away? But the little worm didn't answer. He just winked at Billy Bunny and crawled back into his hole. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again, said the little rabbit, and he hopped off into the woods to get out of the hot sun. And after a little ways, not so very far, he came to a nice cool place, so he sat down to rest, and by and by he fell asleep. And when he woke up, it was so dark, he couldn't see his hand behind his face. Dear me, said the little rabbit, I haven't anything to eat, and I'm hungry as two or three wild cats. I wish I could see my way. I might find something to eat. I'll light my little lantern, and you can follow me, said a little firefly. So Bunny picked up his striped candy cane and threw his knapsack over his shoulder, and fixed the sunflower straight in his buttonhole, and then he looked at his gold watch and chain. And do you know it was nearly fourteen o'clock? It's pretty late for supper. Just then the firefly's lantern went out, and he stubbed his toe. I guess it is, said the firefly, but if you don't find something to eat before morning, you'll have to wait for breakfast. Well, just then the firefly's lantern showed a little told stool table, and on it was a big apple pie. Well, here we are, cried Billy Bunny, and he and the firefly sat down and began to eat the pie. And every now and then the firefly put out her lantern and took more pie, but the little rabbit didn't care, for he could eat forty times as fast as she could. All of a sudden, just like that, a big owl flew down and said, What do you mean by eating my pie, Mr. Rabbit? But the firefly held her lantern right in his face, so that the light blinded his eyes, for owls can only see in the dark, you know, so that Billy Bunny had time to hop away before the owl could catch him. And if the baker's little girl doesn't string a lot of nice hot donuts around her neck for a necklace, so that she can't get them off when she goes to bed, I'll tell you in the next story about the big dog that chased Billy Bunny. Chapter 40 The yellow sun is up each morning before the old cow blows her horn, unless it's cloudy overhead, and then he sometimes stays in bed, and if it's raining, oh dear me, he won't get up till half past three. Billy Bunny opened his knapsack and took out his little pink umbrella, then off he hopped over puddles till he came to a rubber plant, and as it was still raining pitchforks, he pulled two nice rubber boots off the plant and put them on. Now I won't get my feet wet, but I do wish it would rain something besides pitchforks. Well, after a while his wish came true, and Mr. Happy's son got out of bed, and it wasn't quite half past three either, and of course then it stopped raining right away, so Billy Bunny took off his umbrella and folded up his rubbers and put them carefully away in his knapsack. For who knows, he said, when it may rain again. Billy Bunny certainly looked like a little soldier rabbit as he hopped along, little knapsack on his back, and his striped candy cane over his shoulder, like a gun, and how brave he felt too. Yes, sir, he did. All of a sudden, quicker than that, out popped a big dog from behind the bushes. Well, sir, you should have seen that little rabbit run. He went so fast that his rubber boots in his knapsack couldn't keep up with him. Bow wow wow, said the dog, close at his heels. Three and a half times he nearly had Billy Bunny's tail. Oh dear, oh dear, cried the little rabbit. I never went so fast before in all my life, but I've got to go faster. Bow wow wow, barked the dog, and he got so close to Billy Bunny that he grabbed him by the tail. Not really his tail, you know, but only a little of the fur. On and on they went until, all of a sudden, Billy Bunny turned around and pointed his little candy cane just like a gun at the big dog. And would you believe it? That great big dog stopped right then and there. He thought, you know, that Billy Bunny had a real gun. It was a very brave thing in Billy Bunny to do, for, of course, he really only had a little candy cane. And that big dog turned around with his tail between his legs and ran and ran and ran. And if he doesn't stop running before he hits my ink stand and spills all my typewriter, I'll tell you next time something more about Billy Bunny. End of section eight, section nine of Billy Bunny and his friends by David Corey. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapters 41 to 45. Chapter 41. Just a song at twilight when the sun is low and the fire flies lanterns, swinging to and fro. Just a gentle murmur down the evening breeze sings to sleep the birdies in the leafy trees. It makes me sleepy to write this little lullaby so you can easily see how sleepy it made Billy Bunny to hear it sung by a soft sweet voice. It was a little thrush singing to her baby birds, and every now and then willy wind blew on the little horns of the honeysuckle flower, and they made such soft music that the little rabbit crept into a hollow tree and went fast asleep. And by and by, about the middle of the night, he woke up and saw Daddy Fox, Old Man Weasel, and Robert Nighthawk all talking together. Wasn't that an awful sight? It made him shiver all over. How he wished he was back in the dear old briar patch. Oh dear, oh dear, I wish I'd never started out to travel. Well, after a while the three robbers started to go away. Just then the sharp eyes of Old Man Weasel saw the tip of the little rabbit's nose. It twinkled just like a little star, for Billy Bunny was badly frightened. Look, cried Old Man Weasel, there's something good to eat. And then the three robbers came over to the hollow tree. I'm lost this time, I know it, cried the little rabbit. Just then he saw a little ladder, so up he hopped as fast as he could. And when he got to the top, whom do you suppose he saw? Why, the big kind American eagle. And when he found out what was the matter, he told the little rabbit boy to get on his back, and he would fly away with him. It didn't take Billy Bunny long to do this, for the Fox and the Weasel and the hawk were climbing up the ladder as fast as they could. Now where do you want to go? asked the eagle. Oh, take me back to the briar patch in Old Snake Fence Corner, said the little bunny boy. And if the clothes pins on Mrs. Bunny's clothes line don't run away with the clothes and sell them to the ragman, I'll tell you in the next story how Billy Bunny took a ride in the ferry boat. Chapter 42 Well, the big kind American eagle, as I was saying in the last story, flew away with Billy Bunny and Daddy Fox, Old Man Weasel and Robert Nighthawk were as angry as they could be. By and by, the eagle said, there comes Mr. Happy Sun up in the sky. I didn't know morning was so near. I'm afraid I can't carry you all the way home, for I haven't time. It was very nice and warm on the eagle's back, and his feathers were very soft, so that Billy Bunny just hated to get off. Besides, he was quite sleepy. Well, good-bye, said the eagle, and flew away, but of course the little rabbit thanked him before he went. Then Billy Bunny rubbed his eyes with his left hind foot and winked his ears and twinkled his nose. Then he felt lots better and off he hopped. By and by he came to a wide river, so he looked around to find a way to cross over. For there wasn't any bridge, and just as he was going to turn away, a little ferry boat came up to the bank. Want to cross? asked the ferryman, who was a weather-beaten Billy Goat with a long beard. What do you charge? asked the little rabbit. Oh, I don't know, replied the Billy Goat. You see, everyone has a different kind of money, so I take what is given to me. At last Billy Bunny found a carrot in his pocket. That'll do, said the ferryboat man. So off they started. The Goat climbed up on the bicycle seat and began to pedal away. This turned the paddle wheel, and the little boat went along at a great rate. I made this ferryboat myself, explained the Goat. I used to ride a bicycle, but when the old tires busted and the wheels wore out, I put the old thing in the middle of my rowboat and fastened the paddle wheels on the side. But just then, all of a sudden, a big shark swam up and bit off a big piece of the boat, and it began to sink. Wasn't this terrible? The boat was fast-filling with water, and there was the dreadful shark swimming around and around, all ready to swallow them. Get on my back, said the Goat, and I'll swim to shore. But the terrible shark got right in front of them and opened his great big mouth. Then the Billy Goat hooked him with his horns one, two, three times, and the shark began to cry because it hurt him so. And after that, the Goat, with the little rabbit on his back, reached the shore safely. And if the postage stamp doesn't get lit for opening my letter in the morning and reading all the nice things people are saying about Billy Bunny, I'll tell you in the next story about his ride in the stagecoach. Chapter 43 Well, I didn't think you'd get a shore, said the driver of the stagecoach. As the Goat, with Billy Bunny on his back, waded out of the river, the driver was an old dog with a big pipe in his mouth, and instead of horses, he drove a pair of small donkeys, whose ears were almost as long as the little rabbit's ears. Get in, for we're late already, and the old dog picked up the reins and snapped the whip. Inside the stagecoach was an old gander who had come down to take a swim, but on seeing the shark he had changed his mind. I'm disappointed, he remarked. You'd rather be that than eatin', said the Goat, exactly, squawked the gander, but please let me finish my own speech next time. Just then the coach stopped, and a very nice-looking pig got in. She was on her way to market, I guess, for she had a basket on her arm. After this nobody got in until, perhaps somebody might have, if something hadn't happened. At any rate, all of a sudden, a band of wild Indians rushed up and began shooting arrows and tomahawks and spears, and yelling and war-whooping. The donkeys were so frightened they overturned the coach, and the gander flew out of the window, and the goat and the pig flew out of the door, and the little rabbit hopped over the driver's seat. Yes, sir, we, they were all safe in the woods before an Indian could yell, Tomahawke, bless my old feathers, cried the gander. This comes from taking that old-fashioned stagecoach. I should have taken the trolley, and just then they heard the trolley car, so he and the little rabbit jumped aboard. This is fine, said the little rabbit. I've never ridden on a trolley before. But when the conductor asked him for his fare, trouble began all over again. Oh, dear me, cried Billy Bunny, I gave the ferryman my last carrot. I can't help that, said the conductor, pay your fare or get off. Wait a minute, please, said the gander, and he put two nickels in the conductor's hand. Wasn't that lucky? And by and by the car stopped, and the gander said, I live near here. Don't you want to come home with me? And after they had gone a little ways they came to the gander's house, and if the waste-paper basket doesn't run off with the next story, I'll tell you something more about Billy Bunny. Chapter 44 But, goodness me, as soon as Billy Bunny saw that Goose House was on the edge of the pond, he said, I don't believe I'll come in, Mr. Gander, it's too near the water, and I've had enough of water to last me for some time. You see, the little rabbit was thinking about his accident on the river, in the last story, and I don't blame him for wanting to keep away from the water, do you? So he said goodbye to the gander, and hopped along. And after a little ways, not so very far, he came across a man chopping down a tree, and one of the chips flew off and hit the little rabbit on the nose. I'm very sorry, said the kind woodchopper. Did it hurt you badly? Then he opened his lunch pail and handed the little rabbit a piece of cheese. That tastes very nice, said Billy Bunny. Then he hunted all through his pockets again, and do you believe it? He found a lovely apple pie in one of them. This will go nicely with the cheese, said the woodchopper. You're a fine little bunny. After everything was eaten up, Billy Bunny started off again. Then he tasted the tip of his little striped candy cane, because he felt just like something sweet. I don't know how he ever kept from eating it all up, do you? But he didn't, anyhow. Well, after some time he felt pretty tired, so he sat down to rest on a soft mossy bank. The little brook bubbled over the pebbles, and the breeze shook the treetops, so gently that presently he dropped off to sleep. Now, the last time he had done this, something dreadful happened, but this time it didn't. A little deer came by and stopped to look at him, and just then the little rabbit woke up. I didn't mean to wake you, said the fawn. I don't care, answered Billy Bunny. I'd rather play with you. Then Mr. Deer and Mrs. Deer came along, and watched them play hop, skip, and jump. Then they skipped rope, and the little rabbit skipped nine million, four hundred and sixty seven thousand, eight hundred and two and a half times. This beat the little fawn all to pieces, but he didn't care. Then Mr. Deer asked the little rabbit to go with them to the park on the other side of the woods. And if the baker's boy didn't eat the hole of the doughnut, I mean, of course, all the custard pie, I'll tell you in the next story what happened to Billy Bunny in Deer Park. Chapter 45 Now the baker's boy ate the hole of the doughnut, so I can't tell you how little Billy Bunny went into the deer park. And perhaps it's just as well, for something else happened, which was lots nicer. And this is what it was. An airship suddenly got caught in a tree, and the airman, who happened to be a J-bird, flew down and asked where he could get a nail to mend his machine with. And wasn't it lucky Billy Bunny found just the right kind of nail in his knapsack. And when the airship was fixed, the J-bird told the little rabbit to run out on the meadow, and he would fly down and take him for a ride. My, how fast they flew! The airship went much faster than Uncle Lucky's automobile, and that is saying a good deal. Which way are we going? asked the little rabbit. Anywhere near Old Snake Fence Corner. I don't know, I'm sure, said the J-bird. We might just be over it. If he hadn't looked down, everything would have been all right. But he did, and so you see that is the reason the airship bumped into the bell in the church steeple, and the bell began to ring. Oh, how it did ring! Billy Bunny held his front paws over his ears, but that didn't keep out the awful noise, so he put his hind paws over too. But even that didn't do any good. The J-bird tried his best to get the airship away, but he couldn't. And the more he tried, the louder the big bell rang, until all the bats in the steeple were deaf as an adder. And, as an adder, you know, it is a snake, and a deafest animal in the vegetable kingdom. For he lives on vegetables, and of course he couldn't live in the mineral kingdom for that reason. And I'm sure I don't know how the airship ever would have gotten loose if the bell hadn't come off its hook. The big bell rang louder than before, and everybody jumped out of bed and ran to the engine house, for they thought there must be a terrible fire somewhere. Stop, stop! cried Billy Bunny. Take me down to earth, and let me hop away from this awful bell. And when the airship came to the ground, the little rabbit never even said thank you, or goodbye, or pleased to meet you, or twice one or five, but hopped away as fast as he could. And if a shooting star doesn't hit me in the right thumb so that I can't play the piano, I mean the typewriter, I'll tell you next time about Billy Bunny and the lollipop. End of Section 9. Section 10 of Billy Bunny and His Friends by David Corey. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapters 46-50 Chapter 46 When things go wrong, just sing a song, and laugh with all your might. You must be strong when things go wrong to do just what is right. And after all the sweetest call is that which says to me, cheer up my lad, forget your sad, and whistle merrily. Billy Bunny couldn't whistle, but that didn't make any difference, for after the lark had finished her song the little rabbit felt ever so much better. He looked through his pockets till he found a little whistle, and then blew it with all his might, just to show the happy lark that he was following her advice. And just because he tried to forget how discouraged he was, because he couldn't find his way back to the old briar patch, something nice happened. A lollipop man came by and gave him a raspberry lollipop, which is enough to make any bunny boy or bunny girl perfectly happy. That is, until it's all gone, when they might wish for another one, perhaps. And the reason the man gave him the candy was because he belonged to the same circus that the elephant did, the elephant friend of Billy Bunny. You know, after the lollipop was all gone, the little rabbit met a toad, who said he was a third cousin to Uncle Bullfrog. You seem like an old friend, said Billy Bunny, and you're a treetoe too. I've often heard you sing near the old briar patch. Are you going back there, asked the toad? I'm trying to, but I can't find my way. Take the patch to your right when you come to the little bridge, said the treetoe, and then turn to your left at the next bridge. The little rabbit thanked him and hopped away. And when he came to the first bridge, an old white-haired beaver stood up and said, You must pay toll. What's that? asked Billy Bunny. Money to cross a bridge with, said the white-haired beaver. Well, here's a penny, said the little rabbit. And if the monkey wrench doesn't screw the hickory nuts on so tight that the squirrels can't get them off the tree next autumn, I'll tell you what the bunny did after he crossed the bridge. Chapter 47 Well, here we are again wondering how little Billy Bunny crossed the bridge after paying a penny to the old white-haired beaver. Who gets the toll money, said Billy Bunny? I do, I built the bridge, and so I keep it in order. And the old white-haired beaver looked very proud. And as that was all he wanted to know, Billy Bunny hopped across, on his way home to the dear old briar patch. And when he came to the next bridge, he forgot which way to turn. And so have I. Now isn't that too bad? If I only had last night's Bunny Gazette, I'll tell you in a minute, but I gave it to my little boy neighbor who wanted to cut out the Billy Bunny stories for his scrapbook. Well, anyway, the little rabbit turned to the right, which I'm almost sure is wrong. And by and by whom should he meet but an old brown horse? He didn't have any saddle or harness on, and he looked very thin. But that didn't make him cross. He was very nice to Billy Bunny, and asked him where he was going. If I only had an airship, said the little rabbit, I'd soon get home. But oh dear, I have only 23 cents left. You can sell me if you can find anybody who wants a brown horse, said the good-natured animal. I don't belong to anybody but myself. So it will be perfectly honest. So the bunny boy led the brown horse down the road and by and by, they came to a gypsy camp. There weren't any horses nearly as nice looking as the old brown horse. And Billy Bunny thought he'd easily sell him for maybe $1,000. But the gypsies wouldn't give him more than $3. But as this was something, Billy Bunny took the money and started off again. Now if I could only come to a flying machine shop, thought the little rabbit, maybe I could buy a little one for $3.23. But there weren't any stores around. So the bunny boy had to go without an airship just then. But if you only don't give up, you'll get what you want some day. And this is just what happened to Billy Bunny. He suddenly came upon the J-bird sitting by his nest and under the tree was his airship. Will you sell it? Asked the little rabbit. Climbing in just to see how it felt to be all alone in an airship. The J-bird said he would for $3. Wasn't that nice for it left the little bunny boy with $0.23 to buy candy with. And if Daddy Long Legs doesn't put the garden hose on his legs and run all over the lawn tonight, I'll tell you how Billy Bunny got caught on a telegraph pole. Chapter 48. After the J-bird had shown Billy Bunny how to steer the airship, the little rabbit started off. My, wasn't it exciting? He went by so fast that he couldn't hold up his ears. Everything was going along beautifully. When all of a sudden zip, the airship went right into a telegraph pole and caught in the wires. Oh dear, oh dear! cried Billy Bunny. He was just going to say the same thing over again when he heard the wires talking. First one said, Hello, Central. And then the other said, Give me nine, two, four, five snake fence. And then he heard his mother's voice calling up the police station and telling the chief of police to hunt for her son, William Bunny. Oh dear, oh dear! cried Billy Bunny all over again. And then such a sweet song came over the wires that it made the little rabbit take heart again. Don't be worried if you make lots and lots of full mistakes. Don't regret and do not sorrow. Try for better things tomorrow. But remember, never make once again the same mistake. Then Billy Bunny pulled on the steering wheel and would you believe it? The airship slid off the wires and started off again smoothly as could be. And by and by he came to Uncle Lucky's house and right in front of the door was Uncle Lucky himself in his automobile. Hello, Uncle Lucky. I need some gasoline, said Billy Bunny, after landing his airship safely alongside of the automobile, although the old gentleman was scared nearly to death for fear the airship would drop on top of him. So they got some gasoline and put it in the airship. By this time Uncle Lucky was getting curious and when he saw how much Billy Bunny knew about it he asked to be taken along. So they started off and everything went all right until Uncle Lucky's stovepipe hat blew off. I can't lose that hat, cried the old gentleman rabbit. I wore it on my wedding day. So Billy Bunny turned the airship down and went after the old silk hat. But oh dear me before they could catch it it rolled into a deep cave where lived a cross old bear and while they stood outside wondering what to do the old bear came out with Uncle Lucky's hat on his head. What do you mean by throwing an old hat at me? Grawed the bear looking at them so fiercely that neither rabbit could speak from fear. And if the old oyster doesn't clam himself and the catfish catch the little mouse in our pantry so that we have to send the trap back because it isn't any good I'll tell you next time how the band played on Uncle Lucky's old silk hat. Chapter 49 I remember I promised to tell you in the last story how the band played on Uncle Lucky's old silk hat but I'm sorry to say I made a dreadful mistake. What I meant to say was that I tell you how the band frayed on Uncle Lucky's stovepipe hat but now that I've made such a botch out of it I'll tell you something else instead. Well we left Billy Bunny and Uncle Lucky in front of the bear's cave and the cross old bear right in front of them with Uncle Lucky's stovepipe hat on his grizzly head. At last Uncle Lucky plucked up courage and said give me back my hat. I won't said the cross old bear. Well what are you going to do with it then asked Uncle Lucky anxiously. Wear it. No I'm not said the bear. I'm going to keep seashells in it. Oh dear oh dear cried Uncle Lucky and the tears started to his eyes. My poor old wedding stovepipe hat. The cross old bear began to look very uncomfortable. He twisted about first on one foot and then on the other. At last he asked do you really want it back so much. Well you should have seen Uncle Lucky's face. It smiled all over. He looked to him as if the bear was going to give him back his hat you see. I wanted so much said Uncle Lucky and he began to cry again. I wanted so much that I somehow just can't tell you how much I do want it. Then the cross old bear suddenly changed into a nice old bear and came over and put the hat on Uncle Lucky's head which made the old gentleman rabbit laugh for he didn't want the seashells put in it you know. Well after that they all got very friendly and the cross old bear told a funny story about a Welsh rabbit who always had bad dreams when he ate lobster salad and then the rabbit said goodbye and got into their airship and flew off towards the old briar patch and you can just bet Uncle Lucky didn't lose his hat again. He tied his red silk hankerchief over it and under his chin. That's what he did. Now it would be nice if I could get them back without anything happening but I just can't. I must tell you exactly what took place or you wouldn't like the stories nearly as well but I won't tell it now but in the next story. If the little peanut shows the peas in time for dinner. So I won't have to string beans for supper. I'll tell you how Billy Bunny and Uncle Lucky fell into the haymow. Chapter 50. There's the old farm where I got the eggs from Henny Jenny, cried Uncle Lucky. Looking down from the airship in which he and Billy Bunny were going back to the briar patch in old snake fence corner but just then Willie Wynne did something strange. He blew the weather cock off the big barn and slammed the airship right down on the haymow. Wasn't it Lucky the Haymow was there? Well after Billy Bunny and the old gentleman rabbit untangled themselves they looked about to see what was to be done. Nobody was around to help them for the farmer and his wife had gone to town and all the barnyard folk were out in the pleasant meadow. Let's leave the airship and walk home said Billy Bunny and off they hopped towards the briar patch but goodness me how Willie Wynne was blowing it was all a small boy could do to hold on to a kite he was flying. Let us help you said good kind Uncle Lucky and he took hold of the string so did Billy Bunny but the careless boy let go and oh dear oh dear I hate to tell it but up in the air went the two rabbits higher and higher and they didn't dare let go either for fear they'd fall and break their legs. Mr. Happy's son was so sorry that he hid behind a cloud you see he just couldn't bear to have anything happen to little Billy Bunny nor to Uncle Lucky either for that matter for he was very fond of the kind old gentleman rabbit. Look here Willie Wynne cried little Billy Bunny if you don't stop blowing so hard and let us down easily I'll do something to you someday I will but Uncle Lucky didn't say anything he had all he could do to hang on to the string well Willie Wynne didn't answer just then but by and by when they were right over the old briar patch the kite began to come down slowly and pretty soon the two rabbits could just touch the ground with the tips of their toes and you can just bet they let go of the string they let go so fast that they both fell over backwards just as Mrs. Bunny looked out of the front door and wasn't she surprised and glad to see Billy Bunny she kissed him and hugged him and shook hands with Uncle Lucky and then she called up the police station and told them that Billy Bunny was home safe and they needed hunt for him anymore and now that Billy Bunny is safe at home at old snake fence corner will have to leave him there for a while because there isn't any more room in this book for another story it makes me feel lonely to say goodbye to the little rabbit don't you just feel so too well I'll tell you a secret just as soon as I can I'm going to write another book full of stories about Billy Bunny and his friends end of section 10 recording by Linda Marie Nielsen thank you for bc end of Billy Bunny and his friends by david quarry