"Good morning, Striped Chipmunk," said Jimmy Skunk. "Have you
seen any beetles?"

But Striped Chipmunk hopped faster than ever and he said: "What
do you mean, Jimmy Skunk, by pulling the side off my house?"

"Is that the side of your house?" asked Jimmy Skunk, politely. "I
won't do it again."

Then Jimmy Skunk stepped right over Striped Chipmunk, and went
on up the Crooked Little Path to look for some beetles.

Pretty soon he met Peter Rabbit hopping along down the Crooked
Little Path. "Good morning, Jimmy Skunk, where are you going so
early in the morning?" said Peter Rabbit.

"Good morning, Peter Rabbit. Have you seen any beetles?" asked
Jimmy Skunk, politely.

"No, I haven't seen any beetles, but I'll help you find some,"
said Peter Rabbit. So he turned about and hopped ahead of Jimmy
Skunk up the Crooked Little Path.

Now because Peter Rabbit's legs are long and he is always in a
hurry, he got to the top of the hill first. When Jimmy Skunk
reached the end of the Crooked Little Path on the top of the hill
he found Peter Rabbit sitting up very straight and looking and
looking very hard at a great flat stone.

"What are you looking at, Peter Rabbit?" asked Jimmy Skunk.