"Ha!" said Danny Meadow Mouse.

The way he said it made Peter turn to look at him sharply.

"Ha!" said Danny again. "If you are even, why you don't owe him
anything, and he doesn't owe you anything. Watch out, Peter Rabbit!
Watch out! I would stick pretty close to the Old Briar-patch with Mrs.
Peter if I were you. I would indeed. You used to think old Granny Fox
pretty smart, but Old Man Coyote is smarter. Yes, Sir, he is smarter!
And every one of the rest of us has got to be smarter than ever before
to keep out of his clutches. Watch out, Peter Rabbit, if you and Old Man
Coyote are even. Now, if you don't mind, I'll curl up in my old hiding-
place for the night. I really don't dare go back home to-night."

Of course Peter told Danny Meadow Mouse that he was welcome to spend the
night in the Old Briar-patch, and thanked Danny for his warning as he
bade him good-night. But Peter never carries his troubles with him for
long, and by the time he had rejoined little Mrs. Peter he was very much
inclined to laugh at Danny's fear.

"What did that funny little Meadow Mouse have to say?" asked Mrs. Peter.

Peter told her and then added, "But I don't believe we have anything to
fear from Old Man Coyote. You know he is my friend."

"But I don't know that he is mine!" replied little Mrs. Peter, and the
way she said it made Peter look at her anxiously. "I believe Danny
Meadow Mouse is right," she continued, "Oh, Peter, you will watch out,
won't you?"