Johnny Chuck came running up to the edge of the Old Briarpatch quite out of breath. You see, he is so round and fat and roly-poly that to run makes him puff and blow. Johnny Chuck's eyes danced with excitement as he peered into the Old Briar-patch, trying to see Peter Rabbit.  
“Peter! Peter Rabbit! Oh, Peter!” he called. No one answered. Johnny Chuck looked disappointed. It was the middle of the morning, and he had thought that Peter would surely be at home then. He would try once more. “Oh, you Peter Rabbit!” he shouted in such a high-pitched voice that it was almost a squeal.
 
“What you want?” asked a sleepy voice from the middle of the Old Briar-patch.
 
Johnny Chuck's face lighted up. “Come out here, Peter, where I can look at you,” cried Johnny.
 
“Go away, Johnny Chuck! I'm sleepy,” said Peter Rabbit, and his voice sounded just a wee bit cross, for Peter had been out all night, a habit which Peter has.
 
“I've got some news for you, Peter,” called Johnny Chuck eagerly.
 
“How do you know it's news to me?” asked Peter, and Johnny noticed that his voice wasn't quite so cross.
 
“I'm almost sure it is, for I've just heard it myself, and I've hurried right down here to tell you because I think you'll want to know it,” replied Johnny Chuck.
 
“Pooh!” said Peter Rabbit, “it's probably as old as the hills to me. You folks who go to bed with the sun don't hear the news until it's old. What is it?”
 
“It's about Reddy Fox,” began Johnny Chuck, but Peter Rabbit interrupted him.
 
“Shucks, Johnny Chuck! You ............