Peter was sleepy. He didn't like to have his morning nap disturbed.

"Hi, Sammy Jay! Didn't you make racket enough last night to give honest
folks a little peace and quiet to-day?" shouted Peter Rabbit.

Sammy Jay flew up into a young cherry tree on the edge of the Old
Briar-patch, and his eyes were fairly red with anger as he glared down at
Peter Rabbit.

"What's the joke, Peter Rabbit? That's the second time this morning that
I've been told that I was screaming last night, when all the time I was
fast asleep," said Sammy Jay.

"Then it's a funny way you have of sleeping," replied Peter Rabbit. "Come,
Sammy, be honest and tell me what you were yelling 'thief' for, over in the
Green Forest?"

"Peter Rabbit, you and Jimmy Skunk are crazy, just as crazy as loons!"
sputtered Sammy Jay. "I tell you I was asleep, and I guess I ought to
know!"

"And I guess I know your voice when I hear it!" replied Peter Rabbit. "It's
bad enough in daytime, but if I was you, I'd quit yelling in the night.
Some one of these times Hooty the Owl will hear you, and that will be the
end of you and your noise. Now go away; I want to sleep."

Sammy went. He was mad clear through, and yet he didn't know what to make
of it. Were they just trying to make him mad, or had he really been
screaming in his sleep? He flew over to the Smiling Pool. Jerry Muskrat
looked up and saw him.