simply can't do it. It is such a long way for a little fellow
like you that it wouldn't be safe to try. If you went at night,
Hooty the Owl might catch you again. If you tried in daylight,
old Roughleg the Hawk would be almost sure to see you. And night
or day, old Granny Fox or Reddy Fox might come snooping around,
and if they did, they would be sure to catch you. I tell you
what, you stay right here! The dear Old Briar-patch is the safest
place in the world. Why, just think, here you can come out in
broad daylight and laugh at Granny and Reddy Fox and at old
Roughleg the Hawk, because the good old brambles will keep them
out if they try to get you. You can make just as good tunnels
under the snow here as you had there, and there are lots and lots
of seeds on the ground to eat. You know I don't care for them
myself. I'm lonesome sometimes, living here all alone. You stay
here, and we'll have the Old Briar-patch to ourselves."

[Illustration: _"I tell you what, you stay right here!" said
Peter_]

Danny Meadow Mouse looked at Peter gratefully. "I will, and thank
you ever so much, Peter Rabbit," he said.

And this is how the dear Old Briar-patch happened to have another
tenant.

XIII

Peter Rabbit Visits the Peach Orchard

"Don't go, Peter Rabbit! Don't go!" begged Danny Meadow Mouse.

Peter hopped to the edge of the Old Briar-patch and looked over
the moonlit, snow-covered meadows to the hill back of Farmer
Brown's house. On that hill was the young peach orchard of which
Tommy Tit the Chickadee had told him, and ever since Peter's
mouth had watered and watered every time he thought of those
young peach trees and the tender bark on them.

"I think I will, Danny, just this once," said Peter. "It's a long
way, and I've never been there before; but I guess it's just as
safe as the Meadows or the Green Forest."

"_Oh I'm as bold as bold can be!
Sing hoppy-hippy-hippy-hop-o!
I'll hie me forth the world to see!
Sing hoppy-hippy-hippy-hop-o!
My ears are long,
My legs are strong,
So now good day;
I'll hie away!
Sing hoppy-hippy-hippy-hop-o!_"

And with that, Peter Rabbit left the dear, safe Old Briar-patch,
and away he went lipperty-lipperty-lip, across the Green Meadows
toward the hill and the young orchard back of Farmer Brown's
house.

Danny Meadow Mouse watched him go and shook his head in
disapprova