At last they reached Whitie's house and the two little rabbits hopped
through the gate.
"Oh, see these cabbage leaves," said Whitie. "Jack left them here for
my dinner."
But Bunny did not look at the cabbage leaves, for just at that moment
he heard Jip barking.
And then he heard Jack talking to the dog.
Poor Bunny's heart began to beat very fast.
"What shall I do? What shall I do?" he said.
"Jack and Jip will not hurt you," said Whitie. "I think Jack is coming
to close the gate."
Bunny hid himself in one corner of the house and held his breath for
fear Jack would see him.
"Why, Whitie!" Bunny heard Jack say, "I left your gate open this
morning. I must close it now or you will be taking a walk in the
garden."
Jack closed the gate, and Bunny was caught.
When Jack had gone away, Whitie called to Bunny to come out in the yard.
"Come and eat some of these good cabbage leaves," he said.
But Bunny could not eat. He could only sit and look at the closed gate.
"I want to go home," he said to Whitie. "I don't like to stay in this
yard all the time."
"But you will never be hungry here," said Whitie. "Come and eat
something now."
Bunny was not hungry. He could not eat.
All day long he sat in the house.
He wondered what Bobtail and Billy were doing.
He wondered if Mother Rabbit was hunting for him.
Just before dark he heard Jack coming to see Whitie again.
He did not hear Jip barking.
"Perhaps Jack is alone," thou| Bunny. "If he is I think I can get
away."
He sat very still and listened.
Then he peeped out and saw Jack coming across the grass.
He was all alone. The dog was not running along beside him.
Bunny turned around and looked at Whitie.
"Good-by," he said. "I am going to hop out when Jack opens the gate.
"You have a very good home here. But I like my home in the woods much
better.
"Sometime when you run away come and see me."
Just then Jack opened the gate and out jumped Bunny! Jack was so
frightened that he dropped Whitie's supper on the ground.
He looked around to see what had flashed by him so quickly.
But Bunny was out of sight!
He did not stop or look around until he was safe in his own home.
"Where have you been?" asked Mother Rabbit. "I thought you were lost."
"I thought so, too," said Bunny.
"I went to visit the white rabbit who lives in a little house under the
apple tree.
"And then Jack came and shut the gate and I could not get away."
"Oh, Bunny, Bunny!" said Mother Rabbit. "I thought you were too wise
to get caught in a trap."
"I am now," Bunny answered, and he ran out to have a game of tag with
Billy and Bobtail.