AN ENEMY PROVES A FRIEND
Be not too sure lest at the last
Grim disappointment grips you fast.
_Billy Mink._
Jumper the Hare crouched under the big pile of brush where Old Man
Coyote had driven him and wondered what he should do next. He didn’t
dare leave that pile of brush for fear of Old Man Coyote, and he didn’t
dare remain there for fear of Billy Mink. So Jumper was in despair. He
couldn’t remember ever having been in quite such a bad situation. Not
knowing what to do, he did nothing but sit still and shake with fright.
From where he was he could peep out. He could see Old Man Coyote sitting
down with his head on one side, as if studying some way to get Jumper
out from under that pile of brush.
For perhaps two minutes Old Man Coyote sat that way. Suddenly he pricked
up his ears and turned his head. Jumper knew that Old Man Coyote had
heard something. Jumper crept a few steps nearer the edge of the old
pile of brush in order to see out better. Right away he saw a slim,
brown form bounding along toward him. It was Billy Mink.
Old Man Coyote was crouched down with his feet set for a quick spring.
Jumper knew then that Old Man Coyote had heard Billy Mink coming. It was
this that had made him prick up his ears and turn. Billy Mink stopped
very abruptly. Then like a flash he turned. He had seen Old Man Coyote,
or else he had smelled him. The instant Billy Mink turned, Old Man
Coyote sprang forward. There was no place near for Billy Mink to seek
safety in save the brush pile where Jumper was and Old Man Coyote was
between Billy and that brush pile.
“Old Man Coyote will get him this time,” thought Jumper, and didn’t know
whether to be glad or sorry. He wanted with all his might to be rid of
Billy Mink. At the same time he didn’t want anything to happen to Billy.
Billy Mink wasted no time looking for a hiding-place. Like a flash he
climbed the nearest tree, for you know Billy is a very good climber.
There, just out of reach of Old Man Coyote, Billy crouched on a limb and
told Old Man Coyote just what he thought of him. Billy was angry clear
through. It was one thing to hunt and quite another thing to be hunted.
Old Man Coyote didn’t seem to mind what Billy Mink said. He sat down at
the foot of the tree quite as if he intended to stay there.
Jumper waited to see no more. Very quietly he crept out from under the
brush pile on the other side and then took to his heels. He meant to put
as great a distance as possible between himself and these two enemies.
And as he ran he chuckled. “That’s the time an enemy proved a friend,”
said he, for he knew that he would have nothing more to fear from Billy
Mink that night.