Now it is a splendid thing to feel big and strong and brave, a very
splendid thing! But it is a bad thing to let that feeling turn to
pride, foolish pride. Of course old Whitetail hadn't really been
afraid of Johnny Chuck. He had simply passed Johnny with a wink,
because there was plenty to eat without the trouble of fighting, and
Whitetail doesn't fight just for the fun of it.

But foolish Johnny Chuck really thought that old Whitetail was afraid
of him. The more he thought about it, the more tickled he felt and the
more puffed up he felt. He began to talk to himself and to brag. Yes,
Sir, Johnny Chuck began to brag:

"I'm not afraid of any one;
They're all afraid of me!
I only have to show my teeth
To make them turn and flee!"

"Pooh!" said a voice. "Pooh! It would take two like you to make me run
away!"

Johnny Chuck gave a startled jump. There was a strange Chuck glaring
at him from behind a little bunch of grass. He was a big, gray old
Chuck whom Johnny never had seen on the Green Meadows before, and he
didn't look the least bit afraid. No, Sir, he didn't look the
teeniest, weeniest bit afraid! Somehow, Johnny Chuck didn't feel half
so big and strong and brave as he had a few minutes before. But it
wouldn't do to let this stranger know it. Of course not! So, though he
felt very small inside, Johnny made all his hair bristle up and tried
to look very fierce.