wobbly little nose reach the mark made by the other Rabbit.

"My sakes, he is a big fellow!" exclaimed Peter. "I guess I don't want
to meet him until I feel better and stronger than I do now."




CHAPTER IX

AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE


Legs are very useful when you want to run away;
Long, sharp teeth are splendid if to fight you want to stay;
But a far, far greater blessing, whether one may stay or quit,
Is a clever, trusty, quick and ever ready wit.
Peter Rabbit.

Peter Rabbit sat in a snug hiding-place in the Old Pasture and thought
over what he had found out about the strange Rabbit whose tracks he had
followed. They had led him to a rubbing or measuring-tree, where the
strange Rabbit had placed his mark, and that mark was so high up on the
tree that Peter knew the strange Rabbit must be a great deal bigger than
himself.

"If he's bigger, of course he is stronger," thought Peter, "and if he is
both bigger and stronger, of course it won't be the least bit of use for
me to fight him. Then, anyway, I'm too stiff and sore to fight. And
then, he has no business to think he owns the Old Pasture, because he