Now when people are very much afraid , they almost always seem to think that danger is behind instead of in front of them . It was so with Old Mr. Toad . Instead of watching out in front as he hopped along , he kept watching over his shoulder , and that was his second mistake . He was so sure that Mr. Blacksnake was somewhere behind him that he did n't look to see where he was going , and you know that people who do n't look to see where they are going are almost sure to go headfirst right into trouble . Old Mr. Toad went hopping up the Crooked Little Path as fast as he could , which was n't very fast , because he never can hop very fast . And all the time he kept looking behind for Mr. Blacksnake . Presently he came to a turn in the Crooked Little Path , and as he hurried around it , he almost ran into Mr. Blacksnake himself . It was a question which was more surprised . For just a wee second they stared at each other . Then Mr. Blacksnake 's eyes began to sparkle . `` Good morning , Mr. Toad . Is n't this a beautiful morning ? I was just thinking about you , '' said he . But poor Old Mr. Toad did n't say good morning . He did n't say anything . He could n't , because he was too scared . He just gave a frightened little squeal , turned around , and started down the Crooked Little Path twice as fast as he had come up . Mr. Blacksnake grinned and started after him , not very fast because he knew that he would n't have to run very fast to catch Old Mr. Toad , and he thought the exercise would do him good . And this is how it happened that summer morning that jolly , bright Mr. Sun , looking down from the blue , blue sky and smiling to see how happy everybody seemed , suddenly discovered that there was one of the little meadow people who was n't happy , but instead was terribly , terribly unhappy . It was Old Mr. Toad hopping down the Crooked Little Path for his life , while after him , and getting nearer and nearer , glided Mr. Blacksnake .
XVIII JIMMY SKUNK IS JUST IN TIME Jimmy Skunk ambled slowly along , chuckling XXXXX he thought of what a hurry Mr. Toad had been in , when he had heard that Mr. Blacksnake had asked after him .
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