III

WHY UNC' BILLY POSSUM PLAYS DEAD


One thing puzzled Peter Rabbit and Johnny Chuck and Striped Chipmunk a
great deal after they had come to know Unc' Billy Possum and his funny
ways. They had talked it over and wondered and wondered about it, and
tried to understand it, and even had asked Unc' Billy about it. Unc'
Billy had just grinned and said that they would have to ask his mammy.
Of course they couldn't do that, and Unc' Billy knew they couldn't,
for Unc' Billy's mammy had died long before he even thought of coming
up from Ol' Virginny to the Green Forest and the Green Meadows where
they lived. He said it just to tease them, and when he said it, he
chuckled until they chuckled too, just as if it really were the best
kind of a joke.

Now you know it always is the thing that you try and try to find out
and can't find out that you most want to find out. It was just so with
Peter Rabbit and Johnny Chuck and Striped Chipmunk. The more they
talked about it, the more they wanted to know. Why was it that Unc'
Billy Possum played dead instead of trying to run away when he was
surprised by his enemies? They always tried to run away. So did
everybody else of their acquaintance excepting Unc' Billy Possum.

"There must be a reason" said Peter gravely, as he pulled thoughtfully
at one of his long ears.