WaseveranyoneinaworsepositionthanJumpertheHare? TomovewouldbetogivehimselfawaytoWhiteytheSnowyOwl. IfheremainedwherehewasverylikelyShadowtheWeaselwouldfindhim,andtheresultwouldbethesameasifhewerecaughtbyWhiteytheOwl. NeitherWhiteynorShadowknewhewasthere,butitwouldbeonlyafewminutesbeforeoneofthemknewit. Atleast,thatisthewayitlookedtoJumper. Whiteywouldn’tknowitunlesshemoved,butShadowtheWeaselwouldfindhistracks,andhisnosewouldleadhimstraightthere. Backandforth,backandforth,thisway,thatwayandtheotherway,justalittledistanceoff,Shadowwasrunningwithhisnosetothesnow. Hewashunting—huntingforthescentofsomeonewhomhecouldkill. InafewminuteshewouldbesuretofindwhereJumperhadbeen,andthenhisnosewouldleadhimstraighttothattreeatthefootofwhichJumperwascrouching. NearerandnearercameShadow.Hewasslimandtrimanddidn’tlookatallterrible. YettherewasnooneinalltheGreenForestmorefearedbythelittlepeopleinfur,byJumper,byPeterRabbit,byWhitefoot,evenbyChatterertheRedSquirrel. “Perhaps,”thoughtJumper,“hewon’tfindmyscentafterall.Perhapshe’llgoinanotherdirection.” ButallthetimeJumperfeltinhisbonesthatShadowwouldfindthatscent. “Whenhedoes,I’llrun,”saidJumpertohimself. “I’llhaveatleastachancetododgeWhitey. Iamafraidhewillcatchme,butI’llhaveachance. Iwon’thaveanychanceatallifShadowfindsme.” SuddenlyShadowstoppedrunningandsatuptolookaboutwithfiercelittleeyes,allthetimetestingtheairwithhisnose.Jumper’sheartsank. HeknewthatShadowhadcaughtafaintscentofsomeone. ThenShadowbegantorunbackandforthoncemore,butmorecarefullythanbefore. AndthenhestartedstraightforwhereJumperwascrouching! JumperknewthenthatShadowhadfoundhistrail. Jumperdrewalongbreathandsettledhislonghindfeetforagreatjump,hopingtosotakeWhiteytheOwlbysurprisethathemightbeabletogetaway. AndasJumperdidthis,helookedovertothatstumpwhereWhiteyhadbeensittingsolong. Whiteywasjustleavingitonhisgreatsilentwings,andhisfierceyelloweyeswerefixedinthedirectionofShadowtheWeasel. HehadseenthatmovingblackspotwhichwasthetipofShadow’stail. Jumperdidn’thavetimetojumpbeforeWhiteywasswoopingdownatShadow.SoJuniperjustkeptstillandwatchedwitheyesalmostpoppingfromhisheadwithfearandexcitement. Shadowhadn’tseenWhiteyuntiljustasWhiteywasreachingforhimwithhisgreatcruelclaws. NowifthereisanyonewhocanmovemorequicklythanShadowtheWeaselIdon’tknowwhoitis. Whitey’sclawsclosedonnothingbutsnow;Shadowhaddodged. Thenbeganagame,WhiteyswoopingandShadowdodging,andallthetimetheyweregettingfartherandfartherfromwhereJumperwas. Theinstantitwassafetodoso,Jumpertooktohislongheelsandthewayhedisappeared,lipperty-lipperty-lip,wasworthseeing. WhiteytheSnowyOwlhadsavedhimfromShadowtheWeaselanddidn’tknowit.Anenemyhadprovedtobeafriend. 
