minutes were up, he turned around. Old Mr. Toad was nowhere to be seen.
Peter looked hastily this way and that way, but there was not a sign of Old
Mr. Toad. He had disappeared as completely as if he never had been there.




XV


OLD MR. TOAD GIVES PETER A SCARE

If you play pranks on other folks
You may be sure that they
Will take the first chance that they get
A joke on you to play.

Old Mr. Toad was getting even with Peter for laughing at him. While Peter's
back had been turned, Old Mr. Toad had disappeared.

It was too much for Peter. Look as he would, he couldn't see so much as a
chip under which Old Mr. Toad might have hidden, excepting the old board,
and Old Mr. Toad had given his word of honor that he wouldn't hide under
that. Nevertheless, Peter hopped over to it and turned it over again,
because he couldn't think of any other place to look. Of course, Old Mr.
Toad wasn't there. Of course not. He had given his word that he wouldn't
hide there, and he always lives up to his word. Peter should have known
better than to have looked there.

Old Mr. Toad had also said that he would not go three feet from the spot