himself about what he would do.

"I'll just keep out of sight until my wounds are healed, and then we'll
see who owns the Old Pasture!" thought Peter.

No sooner had this thought popped into his head than he received a
surprise, such an unpleasant surprise! It was three heavy thumps right
behind him. Peter knew what that meant. Of course he knew. It meant that
he must run or fight. It meant that he had been so busy thinking about
how smart he was going to be that he had forgotten to cover his own
tracks, and so the maker of the big tracks he had followed had found him
out.

Thump! Thump! Thump! There it was again. Peter knew by the sound that it
was of no use to stay and fight, especially when he was so sore and
stiff. There was nothing to do but run away. He simply had to. And that
is just what he did do, while his eyes were filled with tears of rage
and bitterness.




CHAPTER X

PETER RABBIT ALMOST DECIDES TO RETURN HOME


I have no doubt that you've been told
How timid folks are sometimes bold.
Peter Rabbit.