Adventures in the Land of Canaan | Page 7

never complained of dulness to me. In fact, he was in quite good
enough spirits to have a bet with me on the subject of his being able to
stand motionless for a certain time."

"Oh, he did that to try and kill care, no doubt," answered the Mouse. "I
know him well, though he is a reserved chap and opens out his heart to
few. Come on."
Now by the time the Rabbit and the Mouse returned to the sentry-box,
the gum had had time to get well dried, so that the Sentry was firmly
fixed in his box. Nevertheless, there was still the danger that he might
attempt to move, and so find out too soon the trick that had been played
upon him. To avert this, directly the Rabbit came back again he lost no
time in remarking to the Sentry:
"Yes, I acknowledge you have won the bet. But you have only just
managed to do so; you are looking quite tired out. Another five minutes
or less, and you would have been unable to stand still a moment
longer."
"Double or quits!" cried the Sentry. "For another gold piece, I'll engage
to keep still for the time you mention. If I fail to do so, of course you
don't pay me anything."
"Agreed," said the Rabbit.
"Oh, friends," exclaimed the Mouse, shaking his head, "do not give
way to this habit! It is, indeed, a sad, bad one."
This he merely said to impress the Owl (on whom he had not counted
as a spectator) with a sense of his moral worth. He hoped by this means
to counteract any after suspicions that might arise in the good bird's
mind.
"As to that," said the Sentry, who was generally rude whether he was
addressing friend or foe, "it is my own concern whether I bet or not.
You had better not trouble yourself with my affairs, but if you really
mean to give me one of your performances you would do well to
begin."
"Just as you will," the Mouse said. "But I can't help taking an interest in
the welfare of those with whom I have to do." Then addressing the

Rabbit: "Dear friend," he said smoothly, "will you open with your
famous rêverie, 'Dreamings of a Drum,' whilst I perform my pas de
quatre, 'Twirlings of the Toes?'"
"Very good," agreed the Rabbit.
And the two performers began. But in a few moments the Rabbit
stopped.
"I cannot continue," he said. "I am suffering from cramp in the muscles
of my drum-legs."
"Dear! What a pity!" exclaimed the Mouse. "Come for a walk and
brace yourself up."
"All right!" answered the Rabbit. "We'll go and fetch the gold pieces
which I must give this fellow."
"Can't you give me something at once?" asked the Sentry, who did not,
in his greed of gold, wish to lose the chance of getting all he could.
"I've nothing with me," replied the Rabbit. And so saying he followed
the Mouse, who with his back towards the Sentry had already moved
away.
They had hardly gone more than half a dozen steps when the Mouse
said suddenly and loudly: "That Sentry friend of ours is a smart chap;
he knows how to handle the bayonet."
"You are right," answered the Rabbit, and walked on, the Mouse doing
the same, though with lagging steps.
Presently a look of anger and wonder crept into his eyes, remarking
which the Rabbit laughed.
"What are you laughing at?" asked the Mouse uneasily.
"At nothing particular," answered his companion. "Cheerfulness, you
know, is a habit of the mind."

At this moment a loud groan burst from the Sentry, who during this
time had been struggling to get free, and in a last frantic effort, had just
succeeded in giving a most painful rick to his back.
"Our Sentry friend does not look happy," said the Rabbit grimly.
"He is not well, I suppose," answered the Mouse nervously. "What has
happened, I wonder?"
"ALL IS DISCOVERED!" exclaimed the Rabbit loudly.
Then as the Mouse made a desperate effort to run away, the Rabbit
dealt him a blow on the back which injured the clockwork within his
body and quite put a stop to his flight.
"I know all!" the Rabbit said sternly. "You are a little villain! What
defence can you offer for so grossly deceiving me?"
But the Mouse made no reply. In a fury of disappointment and fear he
was biting the Rabbit's legs, hoping thus to disable him and prevent his
punishing the treachery that had been brought to light.
"Desist!" cried the Rabbit, "or I shall end your life without delay. I
repeat, what excuse can you offer for having so wickedly broken the
terms of our agreement? You have tried to