an idea that they were not far away, but were hiding so that they might
catch him on his way home. Of course, he hadn't the slightest intention
of giving them the chance. He had made up his mind to ask Peter if he
might spend the night in a corner of the Old Briar-patch, and he was
very sure that Peter would say he might, for he and Peter are very good
friends, very good friends indeed.

The second good reason Danny had for waiting was this very friendship.
You see, Peter had been away from the Green Meadows so long that Danny
felt sure he couldn't know all about how things were there now, and so
he wanted to warn Peter that the Green Meadows were not nearly as safe
as before Old Man Coyote had come there to live. So Danny waited, and
when all the rest of the callers had left he called Peter to one side
where little Mrs. Peter couldn't hear. Danny stood up on his hind legs
so as to whisper in one of Peter's ears.

"Do you know that Old Man Coyote is the most dangerous enemy we have,
Peter Rabbit? Do you know that?" he asked.

Peter Rabbit shook his head. "I don't believe that, Danny," said he.
"His terrible voice has frightened you so that you just think him as bad
as he sounds. Why, Old Man Coyote is a friend of mine."

Then he told Danny how Old Man Coyote had done him a good turn In the
Old Pasture in return for a good turn Peter had once done him, and how
he said that he always paid his debts.

Danny Meadow Mouse looked doubtful. "What else did he say?" he demanded.
"Nothing, excepting that we were even now," replied Peter.