Then let us both rest a while first,€ said crafty Missis. Come on, there’s room for two.€ And she crept into the haystack.

We should find food first, or we shall be too weak to find it when we wake up, said Pongo. But he followed her into the haystack.

Just sleep for a few minutes, Pongo while I keep guard,€ said Missis coaxingly.

Pongo could fight on no longer. Sleep came to him while he thought he was still arguing.

Missis waited a few minutes, then crept out and pulled hay round Pongo to hide him. She no longer felt sleepy; she was far too anxious. Even her appetite had gone for the moment. Still, she knew she must find food for them both and she had no idea how to, for she was almost sure there was no dog anywhere near to help her. But pretending to Pongo that she felt brave had made her really feel a little braver, and her tail was no longer down.

She could still see the thatched cottages, and she noticed some hens at the back of them. Perhaps the hens would have some stale crusts that she could well, borrow. She went back.

The first cottage she reached was the one where the little boy lived. And now he was at the back, staring at her! This time, he had an even larger slab of bread and butter, with some jam on it. He ran towards her, holding it out.

Perhaps he really means it now,€ thought Missis. Perhaps he’s sorry he hurt Pongo.€ And she went forward hopefully though well prepared to dodge stones.

The child waited until she was quite close. Then again he stooped for a stone. But he was on a patch of grass, with no stones handy. So, instead, he threw the slab of bread and butter. He threw it with rage, not love, but that made it no less valuable. Missis caught it neatly and bolted.

Bless me,€ she thought, he’s just a small human who likes throwing things. His parents should buy him a ball.€

She took the bread and butter back to the haystack and laid it down by her sleeping husband’s nose. So far she had not even licked it, but now she let herself nibble off one very small corner. It tasted so glorious that her appetite came back with a rush, but she left all the rest for Pongo to find when he woke. Again she pulled the hay round him, and then ran to the road. But she saw a man outside the cottage where the little boy lived, so she did not dare to go back to visit the hens. She ran in the opposite direction.