three steps she would look ahead. Suddenly her eyes snapped, and
she began to creep almost flat on her stomach, just as she had
crept for Peter Rabbit. But it wasn't Peter Rabbit this time. It
was--who do you think? Jimmy Skunk! Yes, Sir, it was Jimmy Skunk.
He was slowly ambling along, for Jimmy Skunk never hurries. Every
big stick or stone that he could move, he would pull over or look
under, for Jimmy Skunk was hunting for beetles.

Old Granny Fox watched him. "He must have a tremendous appetite
to be hunting for beetles after eating my chicken!" muttered she.
Then she jumped out in front of Jimmy Skunk, her eyes snapping,
her teeth showing, and the hair on her back standing on end so as
to make her look very fierce. But all the time old Granny Fox
took the greatest care not to get too near to Jimmy Skunk.

"Where's my chicken?" snarled old Granny Fox, and she looked
very, very fierce.

Jimmy Skunk looked up as if very much surprised. "Hello, Granny
Fox!" he exclaimed. "Have you lost a chicken?"

"You've stolen it! You're a thief, Jimmy Skunk!" snapped Granny
Fox.

"Words can never make black white;
Before you speak be sure you're right,"

said Jimmy Skunk. "I'm not a thief."

"You are!" cried Granny working herself into a great rage.