Winnie the Pooh

'There's just one thing,' said Piglet, fidgeting a bit. 'I was talking to

Christopher Robin, and he said that a Kanga was Generally Regarded as One of the

Fiercer Animals I am not frightened of Fierce Animals in the ordinary way, but it is well known that if One of the Fiercer Animals is Deprived of Its Young, it becomes as fierce as Two of the Fiercer Animals. In which case 'Aha!' is perhaps

a foolish thing to say.'

'Piglet,' said Rabbit, taking out a pencil, and licking the end of it, 'you

haven't any pluck.'

'It is hard to be brave,' said Piglet, sniffing slightly, 'when you're only a

Very Small Animal.'

Rabbit, who had begun to write very busily, looked up and said:

'It is because you are a very small animal that you will be Useful in the

adventure before us.'

Piglet was so excited at the idea of being Useful that he forgot to be frightened any more, and when Rabbit went on to say that Kangas were only Fierce during the winter months, being at other times of an Affectionate Disposition, he could hardly sit still, he was so eager to begin being useful at once.

'What about me?' said Pooh sadly 'I suppose I shan't be useful?'

'Never mind, Pooh,' said Piglet comfortingly. 'Another time perhaps '

'Without Pooh,' said Rabbit solemnly as he sharpened his pencil, 'the adventure

would be impossible.'

'Oh!' said Piglet, and tried not to look disappointed. But Pooh went into a corner of the room and said proudly to himself, 'Impossible without Me! That

sort of Bear.'

'Now listen all of you,' said Rabbit when he had finished writing, and Pooh and

Piglet sat listening very eagerly with their mouths

open. This was what Rabbit read out:

PLAN TO CAPTURE BABY ROO

I. General Remarks. Kanga runs faster than any of Us, even Me.

2. More General Remarks. Kanga never takes her eye off Baby Roo, except when

he's safely buttoned up in her pocket.

3. Therefore. If we are to capture Baby Roo, we must get a Long Start, because

Kanga runs faster than any of Us, even Me. (See I.)

4. A Thought. If Roo had jumped out of Kanga's pocket and Piglet had jumped in,

Kanga wouldn't know the difference, because Piglet is a Very

Small Animal.

5. Like Roo.

6. But Kanga would have to be looking the other way first, so as not to see

Piglet jumping in.

7. See 2.

8. Another Thought. But if Pooh was talking to her very excitedly, she might