Good evening and welcome to Dreamtime Stories with Jackie.
Welcome back.
I am so glad you're here to share another fun adventure in the story of Bob White.
We left Bob White after he and Mrs.
Bob White had built their home near Peter Rabbit in chapter four.
So now we're going to read chapter five.
So snuggle down into your bed and get just perfectly situated,
All snuggly,
And here we go.
Chapter five,
Others Are Interested in Bob White.
Peter Rabbit wasn't the only one who was interested in Bob White and in Bob's hidden home.
Oh my,
No.
It seemed to Peter that Reddy and Granny Fox were prowling around the old briar patch most of the time.
At first,
He didn't understand it.
It isn't me they're after because they know they can't catch me in here,
Said he to himself as he watched them one morning.
It isn't Danny Meadowmouse because Danny hasn't been over this way for a long time.
I don't see how it can be Bob White because he isn't likely to stay on the ground while they are around and they can't catch him unless he is on the ground.
So he was busy trying to puzzle out what should bring Reddy and old Granny Fox that way so often that he neither saw nor heard Jimmy Skunk steal up behind him.
Boo,
Said Jimmy,
And Peter nearly jumped out of his skin.
What did you do that for,
Demanded Peter indignantly.
Just to teach you that you shouldn't go to sleep without keeping your ears open,
Replied Jimmy with a grin.
I wasn't asleep,
Protested Peter.
I was just watching Reddy and Granny Fox and wondering what brings them over here so much.
You might just as well have been asleep,
Replied Jimmy,
Supposing I had been my cousin,
Shadow the Weasel.
Ooh,
Peter shivered at the very thought of that.
Jimmy continued,
You are old enough to know,
Peter,
That it isn't safe to be so interested in one thing that you forget to watch out for other things.
As for Reddy and Granny Fox,
You ought to know what brings them over this way so much.
What is it,
Demanded Peter.
Hasn't Bob White got a nest somewhere around here?
Asked Jimmy by way of an answer.
Yes,
Replied Peter slowly.
I suppose he has,
But what of it?
Well,
Reddy and Granny are looking for it,
Silly,
Replied Jimmy.
Peter stared at Jimmy a minute in a puzzled way.
What do they want from that?
They don't eat eggs,
Do they?
Well,
Eggs hatch out into little birds,
Don't they?
Demanded Jimmy.
If Reddy and Granny can find that nest,
They'll wait until the eggs have hatched into baby birds and then,
Well,
I've heard say that there is nothing more delicious than a little baby bird.
Now,
Do you understand?
Peter did,
Of course he did.
He understand perfectly well.
Reddy and Granny had heard Bob White whistling over there every day and they knew that meant that his home wasn't far away.
It was all very plain to him now.
By the way,
You don't happen to know where that nest is,
Do you?
Asked Jimmy carelessly.
No,
I don't,
Exclaimed Peter.
And suddenly he was glad that he didn't know about that nest.
What do you want to know about it for?
He demanded suspiciously.
Well,
I'm hungry for some eggs,
Confessed Jimmy frankly.
Oh,
You wouldn't hurt Mr.
And Mrs.
Bob White's eggs,
Would you?
I thought better of you than that,
Jimmy Skunk.
Jimmy grinned.
Don't get excited,
Peter.
I'm told that Mrs.
Bob lays a great many eggs and if that's the case,
She wouldn't miss a few.
Oh,
Jimmy Skunk,
You're horrid.
So there,
Declared Peter.
Don't blame me,
Retorted Jimmy.
Old Mother Nature gave me a taste for eggs just as she gave Reddy Fox a taste for a rabbit.
You haven't any idea where that nest is,
Have you?
No,
I haven't.
And if I had,
I wouldn't tell you,
Declared Peter.
Well,
So long then,
Replied Jimmy good-naturedly.
I think I'll go have a look for it.
I don't wish Bob White and his wife the least bit of harm,
But I would like two or three of those yummy eggs.
And with this,
Jimmy Skunk ambled out to look for Bob White's nest.
Okay,
So come back again very,
Very soon and we'll read chapter six,
The Cunning of Mr.
And Mrs.
Bob White.
So have a good sleep.
This is Jackie sending you so many hugs.
Good night now.
