He had come up without either of the others seeing him . Peter 's big eyes opened wider than ever . `` Do you mean to say that he has been eating his own fat ? '' he gasped . Johnny Chuck and Jimmy Skunk both laughed . `` No , '' said Jimmy Skunk , `` he did n't eat it , but he lived on it just the same while he was asleep all winter . Do n't you see he has n't got a particle of fat on him now ? '' `` But how could he live on it , if he did n't eat it ? '' asked Peter , staring at Johnny Chuck as if he had never seen him before . Jimmy Skunk shrugged his shoulders . `` Do n't ask me . That is one of Old Mother Nature 's secrets ; you 'll have to ask her , '' he replied . `` And do n't ask me , '' said Johnny Chuck , `` for I 've been asleep all the time . My , but I 'm hungry ! '' `` So am I ! '' said another voice . There was Reddy Fox grinning at them . Johnny Chuck dove into the doorway of his house with Peter Rabbit at his heels , for there was nowhere else to go . Jimmy Skunk just stood still and chuckled . He knew that Reddy Fox did n't dare touch him .
III THE SINGERS OF THE SMILING POOL Mistress Spring was making everybody happy XXXXX the Green Meadows and in the Green Forest and around the Smiling Pool .
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