keen ears of his the best he knew how. But the Old Briar-patch was very
thick, and he could see only a little way into it, and out of it came no
sound to hint of a secret there. Then Reddy began to walk around the Old
Briar-patch in quite the most matter-of-fact way, but as he walked that
wonderful nose of his was testing every little breath of air that came
out of the Old Briar-patch. At last he reached a certain place where a
little stronger breath of air tickled his nose. He stopped for a few
minutes, and slowly a smile grew and grew. Then, without saying a word,
he turned and trotted back towards the Green Forest.

Peter Rabbit watched him go. Then he joined Mrs. Peter in the heart of
the Old Briar-patch. "My dear," he said, with a sigh that was almost a
sob, "Reddy Fox has found out our secret."

"Never mind," said little Mrs. Peter brightly. "It would have to be
found out soon, anyway."

Trotting back up the Lone Little Path, Reddy Fox was grinning broadly.
"It IS news!" said he. "Jenny Wren was right, it IS news! But I don't
believe anybody else knows it yet, and I hope they won't find it out
right away, least of all Old Man Coyote. What a wonderful thing a good
nose is! It tells me what my eyes cannot see nor my ears hear."




CHAPTER XXXI

BLACKY THE CROW HAS SHARP EYES