But instead of accepting his disgrace in a contrite3 spirit, he became moody4 and sullen5. When the others, including Fuzzy Wuzz, avoided him, and passed him in silence, he gnashed his teeth in a fine rage.
Then he very naturally laid all the blame to Bumper, excusing himself from any guilt6. This did not improve his manners any, and finally, satisfied that he could get no sympathy in his home burrow7, he decided8 to seek revenge outside.
He would spread the tale among all his people in the woods that the white rabbit was a fraud, and that it was his intention to make them all submit to his rule. This would naturally cause 59general anger, and perhaps stir up a revolt. The coming of Bumper in the woods had not reached far. Rumors9 spread slowly unless taken up by the birds, and Bumper had made no attempt to interest them in his cause. He was too busy learning the ways of the woods and the duties of a king and leader.
Spotted Tail decided to get ahead of him and spread the news first, distorting it to suit his purpose. He appealed to Rusty10 the Blackbird first. “Rusty, you’ve always been a friend of mine,” he said, meeting him one day. “Now, will you do me a great favor?”
“Tell me what it is first, Spotted Tail,” was the reply.
“It is this, Rusty. Bumper the White Rabbit has come into the woods from somewhere, and proclaimed himself king of all the rabbits. He is a cruel king, and intends to wage warfare11 upon all the burrows12 that do not submit to his rule. I want you to spread the news all over the woods, and warn all leaders of burrows to rise in revolt.”
Rusty looked at the speaker, and flirted13 his wings. “No, no, Spotted Tail,” he replied. “I’m no carrier of evil messages. Besides, I’ve met Bumper the White Rabbit, and I liked him. He didn’t seem to me cruel or a bad sort of fellow.”
60Spotted Tail appealed next to Mr. Woodpecker, who listened to his story in silence, and then tapped the trunk of a tree with his long, hard bill. “No, no, no!” he said, keeping time with his taps. “I don’t believe your story, Spotted Tail. Bumper’s not that kind. Good-bye.”
Spotted Tail looked disappointed. He was very sore and grouchy14. It seemed as if the birds as well as the rabbits were all against him. Why did they all like Bumper the White Rabbit so much?
He met Towhee the Chewink next, and approached her with a smile and friendly greeting, but when he had stated his grievance15, and made his request, modest little Towhee laughed in his face.
“I’ve got better business than spreading such news,” she replied. “You’ll have to find another messenger.”
In turn Spotted Tail approached Piney the Purple Finch16, Mrs. Ph?be Bird and Mr. Crested17 Flycatcher, and received from each one the same reply. None of them would undertake the work of stirring up a revolt against Bumper.
It was Shrike, the Butcher Bird, whose very name made him dreaded18 and hated
61He was in despair, and was bemoaning19 his luck when suddenly a voice startled him. “What’s the matter, Spotted Tail? You look black enough to obscure the sun.”
It was Shrike the Butcher Bird, whose very name made him dreaded and hated. Shrike had the unpleasant habit of catching20 insects, lizards21, frogs, and sometimes small birds, and sticking them on thorns until he or his mate was ready to eat them. This disgusting and cruel habit made him an outcast among the birds, and very few would have anything to do with him. Naturally, it soured his disposition22, and made him irritable23 and unfriendly.
Spotted Tail looked up and a gleam of hope entered his eyes. Why not ask the Shrike to spread the message that would stir up trouble? By so doing he would accomplish two things. He would get even with the birds who had refused to listen to his plea, and accomplish the downfall of Bumper.
“I have enough trouble to make me look blue,” Spotted Tail replied. “Even the brightness of the sun doesn’t make me feel happy.”
“It must be trouble indeed, then,” laughed the Shrike, “for it’s a beautiful day, and everybody else feels happy. What is it?”
“Alack! And alas24!” sighed the rabbit. “I’m afraid you won’t sympathize with me any more than Mr. Woodpecker or Rusty the Blackbird 62or any of the others. I have told my tale to them, and they only laught at me.”
A wicked gleam flashed from the eyes of Shrike the Butcher Bird. “Rusty and Mr. Woodpecker are self-conceited birds, and what they think don’t amount to much. Little I’d care what they said or did.”
“But they won’t carry my message,” added Spotted Tail. “And if no one will do it how can I save the rabbits of the woods from the terrible thing that is coming to them?”
“What is this terrible thing?” queried25 the Shrike, growing interested.
“It’s about Bumper the White Rabbit,” continued the dejected rabbit, sighing heavily. “He has come into the woods to rule over all my people, and he is a cruel, selfish king. He intends to make all of us his slaves. He won’t listen to reason, but says he’s appointed to rule, and any one who disputes his right he will drive from the woods.”
The Shrike smiled. “Why don’t you drive him from the woods?” he asked. “I never knew you to be afraid of anything. I’d quickly put an end to his rule.”
“Quite right, Mr. Shrike. I would do it if it was only Bumper I had to fight. But he has come into our burrow, and by tricks and strange 63ways won over Old Blind Rabbit, Fuzzy Wuzz, Goggle26 Eyes, and all the others. They’re going to help him to rule in the woods.”
“Ah! Hum!” mused27 the Shrike. “So that’s the trouble! You’re the only good rabbit in the burrow?”
“Oh, no, I didn’t mean that,” protested Spotted Tail. “I’m no better than the others, but he couldn’t deceive me. I saw through his tricks, and because I opposed him I’m in disfavor.”
“And what is this message you want me to carry to the rest of the rabbits in the woods?”
“I wish to put them on their guard so Bumper cannot deceive them. If they would rise in their might they could overwhelm him even if all my family backed him up. If a revolt isn’t begun right away, he will win them by degrees, and then it will be too late.”
“And Rusty and Mr. Woodpecker refused to carry the message?” queried the Shrike.
“Yes,” sighed Spotted Tail. “I don’t believe they like me. I’ve never been very friendly with the birds.”
Shrike the Butcher Bird hesitated for a moment to impale28 a worm on a thorn for future use, and then said:
“All right, Spotted Tail. I’ll carry the message to every rabbit burrow in the woods.”
64“Oh, Shrike, you’re so kind!” exclaimed Spotted Tail; but the bird interrupted him with a harsh laugh.
“It isn’t because I like you, Spotted Tail,” he said, “that I’m doing this, but just to spite the other birds. I’ll punish them for scorning and disliking me. That’s why I do it. Good-bye! I’ll begin spreading the news right away.”
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1
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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bumper
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| n.(汽车上的)保险杠；adj.特大的，丰盛的 | |
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contrite
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| adj.悔悟了的，后悔的，痛悔的 | |
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moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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6
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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burrow
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| vt.挖掘(洞穴)；钻进；vi.挖洞；翻寻；n.地洞 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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11
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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burrows
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| n.地洞( burrow的名词复数 )v.挖掘（洞穴），挖洞( burrow的第三人称单数 )；翻寻 | |
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flirted
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
grouchy
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| adj.好抱怨的；愠怒的 | |
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grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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finch
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| n.雀科鸣禽(如燕雀，金丝雀等) | |
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crested
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| adj.有顶饰的，有纹章的，有冠毛的v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的过去式和过去分词 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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19
bemoaning
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| v.为（某人或某事）抱怨( bemoan的现在分词 )；悲悼；为…恸哭；哀叹 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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21
lizards
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| n.蜥蜴( lizard的名词复数 ) | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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25
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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goggle
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| n.瞪眼，转动眼珠，护目镜；v.瞪眼看，转眼珠 | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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impale
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| v.用尖物刺某人、某物 | |
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