[Illustration: "AS I LIVE, " HE MUTTERED, "THAT IS BOWSER THE HOUND!"_Page 29. _]

BOWSER THE HOUND

BY

THORNTON W. BURGESS

_With Illustrations by_

_HARRISON CADY_

This book, while produced under wartime conditions, in full compliancewith government regulations for the conservation of paper and otheressential materials, is COMPLETE AND UNABRIDGED

GROSSET & DUNLAP

PublishersNew York

_Printed by arrangement with Little, Brown, and Company_

_Copyright, 1920, _BY LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY. _All rights reserved_

=Dedication=

TO THE CHILD'S LOVING PLAYMATE, LOYAL PROTECTORAND STAUNCH ALLY--THE DOG, THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I OLD MAN COYOTE LEADS BOWSER AWAY 1

II OLD MAN COYOTE PLAYS A TRICK 6

III WHAT HAPPENED TO BOWSER 10

IV POOR BOWSER 15

V BOWSER SPENDS A BAD NIGHT 20

VI THE SURPRISE OF BLACKY THE CROW 25

VII BLACKY THE CROW TAKES PITY ON BOWSER 30

VIII HOW BLACKY THE CROW HELPED BOWSER 34

IX OLD MAN COYOTE GIVES OUT DARK HINTS 39

X HOW REDDY FOX INVESTIGATED 44

XI A LITTLE UNPLEASANTNESS 49

XII THE CLEVERNESS OF OLD MAN COYOTE 54

XIII THE MISCHIEVOUS LITTLE NIGHT BREEZE 59

XIV THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE 64

XV REDDY'S FORLORN CHANCE 69

XVI WHY REDDY WENT WITHOUT A CHICKEN DINNER 74

XVII FARMER BROWN'S BOY DROPS A PAN OF CORN 79

XVIII MUTUAL RELIEF 84

XIX WHERE WAS BOWSER THE HOUND? 89

XX WHERE BOWSER WAS 93

XXI BOWSER BECOMES A PRISONER 98

XXII FARMER BROWN'S BOY LOOKS IN VAIN 103

XXIII BOWSER'S GREAT VOICE 107

XXIV BLACKY TRIES TO GET HELP 112

XXV BLACKY CALLS ON REDDY FOX 117

XXVI RED WITS AND BLACK WITS 122

XXVII THE ARTFULNESS OF BLACKY 127

XXVIII REDDY FOX DREAMS OF CHICKENS 131

XXIX REDDY TRIES TO AROUSE BLACKY'S PITY 136

XXX BLACKY THE CROW IS ALL PITY 141

XXXI BLACKY IS MUCH PLEASED WITH HIMSELF 146

XXXII BLACKY WAITS FOR REDDY 151

XXXIII REDDY WATCHES THE FAT HENS 156

XXXIV PATIENCE AND IMPATIENCE 161

XXXV THINGS HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE 166

XXXVI REDDY HIDES THE FAT HEN 171

XXXVII FARMER BROWN'S BOY HAS A GLAD SURPRISE 176

XXXVIII REDDY GOES BACK FOR HIS FAT HEN 181

XXXIX A VANISHED DINNER 186

XL WHERE WAS REDDY'S DINNER? 191

XLI WHAT BLACKY THE CROW SAW 196

XLII ALL IS WELL THAT ENDS WELL 201

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

"As I live, " he muttered, "that is Bowser the Hound!" _Frontispiece_

Over at the gate of Farmer Brown's henyard he couldsee a dark form 53

Somewhere not very far ahead of him was a house 96

On broad wings it sailed over to that hollow stump 199

CHAPTER I

OLD MAN COYOTE LEADS BOWSER AWAY

 Though great or small the matter prove Be faithful in whate'er you do. 'Tis thus and only thus you may To others and yourself be true. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Old Man Coyote is full of tricks. People with such clever wits as hisusually are full of tricks. On the other hand Bowser the Hound isn'ttricky at all. He just goes straight ahead with the thing he has to doand does it in the most earnest way. Not being tricky himself, hesometimes forgets to watch out for tricks in others. 

One day he found the fresh trail of Old Man Coyote and made up his mindthat he would run down Old Man Coyote if he had to run his legs off todo it. He always makes up his mind like that whenever he starts out tohunt. You know there is nothing in the world Bowser enjoys quite so muchas to hunt some one who will give him a long, hard run. Any time he willgo without eating for the pleasure of chasing Reddy or Granny Fox, orOld Man Coyote. 

Now Old Man Coyote was annoyed. He was and he wasn't afraid of Bowserthe Hound. That is to say he was afraid to fight Bowser, but he wasn'tafraid to be hunted by Bowser, because he was so sure that he was smartenough to get away from Bowser. If Bowser had appeared at almost anyother time Old Man Coyote wouldn't have been so annoyed. But to haveBowser appear just then made him angry clear through. You see he hadjust started out to get his dinner. 

"What business has that good-for-nothing dog over here anyway, I'd liketo know, " he muttered, as he ran swiftly through the Green Forest. "Whatright has he to meddle in other folks' business? I'll just teach thatfellow a lesson; that's what I'll do! I'll teach him that he can'tinterfere with me not be sorry for it. "

So Old Man Coyote ran and ran and ran, and never once did he try tobreak his trail. In fact, he took pains to leave a trail that Bowsercould follow easily. After him Bowser ran and ran and ran, and all thetime his great voice rang out joyously. This was the kind of a hunt heloved. Out of the Green Forest into the Old Pasture, Old Man Coyote ledBowser the Hound. Across the Old Pasture and out on the other side theyraced. Farther and farther away from home Old Man Coyote led Bowser theHound. Instead of circling back as usual, he kept on. Bowser kept onafter him. By and by he was in strange country, country he had nevervisited before. He didn't notice this. He didn't notice anything but thesplendid trail Old Man Coyote was making. He didn't even realize that hewas getting tired. Always in his nose was the tantalizing scent of OldMan Coyote. Bowser was sure that this time he would catch this fellowwho had fooled him so often before. 

CHAPTER II

OLD MAN COYOTE PLAYS A TRICK

 Of people who play tricks beware, Lest they may get you in a snare. You cannot trust them, so watch out Whenever one may be about. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

There is such a thing as being too much interested in the thing you aredoing. That is the way accidents very often happen. A person will get sointerested in something that he will be blind and deaf to everythingelse, and so will walk straight into danger or trouble of some kind. 

Now just take the case of Bowser the Hound. Bowser was so interested inthe chase of Old Man Coyote that he paid no attention whatever toanything but the warm scent of Old Man Coyote which the latter wastaking pains to leave. Bowser ran with his nose in Old Man Coyote'stracks and never looked either to left or right. He would lift his headonly to look straight ahead in the hope of seeing Old Man Coyote. Thendown would go his nose again to follow that scent. 

So Bowser didn't notice that Old Man Coyote was leading him far, faraway from home into country with which he was quite unacquainted. Bowserhas a great, deep, wonderful voice which can be heard a very longdistance when he bays on the tracks of some one he is hunting. It canbe heard a very long distance indeed. But far as it can be heard, Bowserwas far, far beyond hearing distance from Farmer Brown's house beforeOld Man Coyote began to even think of playing one of his clever tricksin order to make Bowser lose his scent. You see, Old Man Coyote intendedto lead Bowser into strange country and there lose him, hoping that hewould not be able to find the way home. 

Old Man Coyote is himself a tireless runner. He is not so heavy as isBowser, so does not tire as easily. Then, too, he had not wasted hisbreath as had Bowser with his steady baying. Old Man Coyote could tellby the sound of Bowser's voice when the latter was beginning to growtired, and he could tell by the fact that he often had a moment or twoto sit down and rest before Bowser got dangerously near. 

So at last Old Man Coyote decided that the time had come to play atrick. By and by he came to a river. At that point there was a high, overhanging bank. On the very edge of this bank Old Man Coyote made along leap to one side. Then he made another long leap to the big trunkof a fallen tree. He ran along this and from the end of it made stillanother long leap, as long a leap as he could. Then he hid in a littlethicket to see what would happen. 

CHAPTER III

WHAT HAPPENED TO BOWSER

 When a Coyote seems most honest, watch him closest. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Bowser was very, very tired. He wouldn't admit it even to himself, forwhen he is hunting he will keep on until he drops if his wonderful nosecan still catch the scent of the one he is following. Bowser iswonderfully persistent. So, though he was very, very tired, he kept hisnose to the ground and tried to run even faster, for the scent of OldMan Coyote was so strong that Bowser felt sure he would soon catch him. 

Bowser didn't look to see where he was going. He didn't care. It wasenough for him to know that Old Man Coyote had gone that way, and whereOld Man Coyote could go Bowser felt sure he could follow. So, stillbaying with all his might and making the hills ring with the sound ofhis great voice, Bowser kept on. 

Hidden in a little thicket, stretched out so that he might rest better, Old Man Coyote listened to that great voice drawing nearer and nearer. There was a wicked grin on Old Man Coyote's face, and in his yellow eyesa look of great eagerness. In a few minutes Bowser came in sight, hisnose in the trail Old Man Coyote had left. Into Bowser's voice crept anew note of eagerness as his nose picked up the scent stronger thanever. Straight on he raced and it seemed as if he had gained newstrength. His whole thought was on just one thing--catching Old ManCoyote, and Old Man Coyote knew it. 

Bowser didn't see that he was coming to a steep bank. He didn't see itat all until he reached the edge of it, and then he was going so fastthat he couldn't stop. Over he went with a frightened yelp! Down, downhe fell, and landed with a thump on the ice below. He landed so hardthat he broke the ice, and went through into the cold, black water. 

Old Man Coyote crept to the edge of the bank and peeped over. PoorBowser was having a terrible time. You see, the cold water had takenwhat little breath his fall had not knocked out of him. He doesn't liketo go in water anyway. You know the hair of his coat is short anddoesn't protect him as it would if it were long. Old Man Coyote grinnedwickedly as he watched Bowser struggling feebly to climb out on the ice. Each time he tried he slipped back, and all the time he was whimpering. 

Old Man Coyote grinned more wickedly than ever. I suspect that he hopedthat Bowser would not be able to get out. But after a little Bowser didmanage to crawl out, and stood on the ice, shivering shaking. Once moreOld Man Coyote grinned, then, turning, he trotted back towards FarmerBrown's. 

CHAPTER IV

POOR BOWSER

 Follow a crooked trail and you will find a scamp at the end. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Poor Bowser! He stood shivering and shaking on the ice of the strangeriver to which Old Man Coyote had led him, and he knew not which way toturn. Not only was he shivering and shaking from his cold bath, but hewas bruised by his fall from the top of the steep bank, and he was sotired by his long run after Old Man Coyote that he could hardly stand. 

Old Man Coyote had stayed only long enough to see that Bowser hadmanaged to get out of the water, then had turned back towards the OldPasture, the Green Meadows and the Green Forest near Farmer Brown's. Yousee, Old Man Coyote knew the way back. He would take his time aboutgetting there, for it really made no particular difference to him whenhe reached home. He felt sure he would be able to find something to eaton the way. 

But with Bowser it was very different. Poor Bowser didn't know where hewas. It would have been bad enough under any circumstances to have beenlost, but to be lost and at the same time tired almost to death, bruisedand lame, wet and chilled through, was almost too much to bear. Hehadn't the least idea which way to turn. He couldn't climb up the bankto find his own trail and follow it back home if he wanted to. You see, that bank was very steep for some distance in each direction, and so itwas impossible for Bowser to climb it. 

For a few minutes he stood shivering, shaking and whimpering, notknowing which way to turn. Then he started down the river on the ice, for he knew he would freeze if he continued to stand still. He limpedbadly because one leg had been hurt in his fall. After a while he cameto a place where he could get up on the bank. It was in the midst ofdeep woods and a very, very lonely place. Hard crusted snow covered theground, but it was better than walking on the ice and for this Bowserwas thankful. 

Which way should he turn? Where should he go? Night was coming on; hewas wet, cold and hungry, and as utterly lost as ever a dog was. PoorBowser! For a minute or two he sat down and howled from sheerlonesomeness and discouragement. How he did wish he had left Old ManCoyote alone! How he did long for his snug, warm, little house in FarmerBrown's dooryard, and for the good meal he knew was awaiting him there. Now that the excitement of the hunt was over, he realized how very, veryhungry he was, and he began to wonder where he would be able to getanything to eat. Do you wonder that he howled?

Old Man Coyote, trotting along on his way home, heard that howl andunderstood it. Again he grinned that wicked grin of his, and stopped tolisten. "I don't think he'll hunt me again in a hurry, " he muttered, then trotted on. Poor Bowser! Hunting for anything but his home wasfarthest from his thoughts. 

CHAPTER V

BOWSER SPENDS A BAD NIGHT

 There's nothing like just sticking to The thing you undertake to do. There'll be no cause then, though you fail, To hang your head or drop your tail. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Bowser was lost, utterly lost. He hadn't the least idea in whichdirection Farmer Brown's house was. In fact he hadn't the least ideawhich way to turn to find any house. It was the most lonely kind of alonely place to which Old Man Coyote had led him and there played thetrick on him which had caused him to tumble into the strange river. 

But Bowser couldn't stand still for long. Already jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was going to bed behind the Purple Hills, and Bowser knew that coldas had been the day, the night would be still colder. He must keepmoving until he found a shelter. If he didn't he would freeze. Sowhimpering and whining, Bowser limped along. 

Bowser was not afraid to be out at night as some folks are. Goodness, no! In fact, on many a moonlight night Bowser had hunted Reddy Fox orGranny Fox all night long. Never once had he felt lonesome then. But nowit was very, very different. You see, on those nights when he had huntedhe always had known where he was. He had known that at any time hecould go straight home if he wanted to. That made all the difference inthe world. 

It would have been bad enough, being lost this way, had he been feelingat his best. Being lost always makes one feel terribly lonesome. Lonesomeness is one of the worst parts of the feeling of being lost. Butadded to this was the fact that Bowser was really not in fit conditionto be out at all. He was wet, tired, lame and hungry. Do you wonder thathe whimpered and whined as he limped along over the hard snow, andhadn't the least idea whether he was headed towards home or deeper intothe great woods?

For a long time he kept on until it seemed to him he couldn't drag onefoot after another. Then quite suddenly something big and dark loomed upin front of him. It really wasn't as big as it seemed. It was a littlehouse, a sugar camp, just such a one as Farmer Brown has near his home. Bowser crept to the door. It was closed. Bowser sniffed and sniffed andhis heart sank, for there was no scent of human beings. Then he knewthat that little house was deserted and empty. Still he whined andscratched at the door. By and by the door opened ever so little, for ithad not been locked. 

Bowser crept in. In one corner he found some hay, and in this he curledup. It was cold, very cold, but not nearly as cold as outside thatlittle house. So Bowser curled up in the hay and shivered and shook andslept a little and wished with all his might that he never had found thetracks of Old Man Coyote. 

CHAPTER VI

THE SURPRISE OF BLACKY THE CROW

 The harder it is to follow a trail The greater the reason you should not fail. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

At all seasons of the year Blacky the Crow is something of a traveler. But in winter he is much more of a traveler than in summer. You see, inwinter it is not nearly so easy to pick up a living. Food is quite asscarce for Blacky the Crow in winter as for any of the other littlepeople who neither sleep the winter away nor go south. All of thefeathered folks have to work and work hard to find food enough to keepthem warm. You know it is food that makes heat in the body. 

So in the winter Blacky is in the habit of flying long distances insearch of food. He often goes some miles from the thick hemlock-tree inthe Green Forest where he spends his nights. You may see him startingout early in the morning and returning late in the afternoon. 

Now Blacky knew all about that river into which Bowser the Hound hadfallen. There was a certain place on that river where Jack Frost neverdid succeed in making ice. Sometimes things good to eat would be washedup along the edge of this open place. Blacky visited it regularly. Hewas on the way there now, flying low over the tree-tops. 

Presently he came to a little opening among the trees. In the middle ofit was a little house, a rough little house. Blacky knew all about it. It was a sugar camp. He knew that only in the spring of the year was helikely to find anybody about there. All the rest of the year it was shutup. Every time he passed that way Blacky flew over it. Blacky's eyes arevery sharp indeed, as everybody knows. Now, as he drew near, he noticedright away that the door was partly open. It hadn't been that way thelast time he passed. 

"Ho!" exclaimed Blacky. "I wonder if the wind blew that open, or ifthere is some one inside. I think I'll watch a while. "

So Blacky flew to the top of a tall tree from which he could look allover the little clearing and could watch the door of the little house. 

For a long time he sat there as silent as the trees themselves. Nothinghappened. He began to grow tired. Rather, he began to grow so hungrythat he became impatient. "If there is anybody in there he must beasleep, " muttered Blacky to himself. "I'll see if I can wake him up. Caw, caw, ca-a-w, caw, caw!"

Blacky waited a few minutes, then repeated his cry. He did this threetimes and had just made up his mind that there was nobody inside thatlittle house when a head appeared in the doorway. Blacky was sosurprised that he nearly fell from his perch. 

"As I live, " he muttered, "that is Bowser the Hound! It certainly is. Now what is he doing way over here? I've never known him to go so farfrom home before. "

CHAPTER VII

BLACKY THE CROW TAKES PITY ON BOWSER

 Beneath a coat of ebon hue May beat a heart that's kind and true. The worst of scamps in time of need Will often do a kindly deed. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

"Caw, ca-a-w!" exclaimed Blacky the Crow. Bowser looked up to the top ofthe tall tree where Blacky sat, and in his great, soft eyes was such alook of friendliness that it gave Blacky a funny feeling. You knowBlacky is not used to friendly looks. He is used to quite the otherkind. Bowser came out of the old sugar house where he had spent thenight and whined softly as he looked up at Blacky, and as he whined hewagged his tail ever so slightly. Blacky didn't know what to make of it. He had never been more surprised in his life. He didn't know whichsurprised him most, finding Bowser 'way over here where he had nobusiness to be, or Bowser's friendliness. 

As for Bowser, he had spent such a forlorn, miserable night, and he wasso terribly lonesome, that the very sound of Blacky's voice had givenhim a queer thrill. Never had he thought of Blacky the Crow as a friend. In fact, he never thought much about Blacky at all. Sometimes he hadchased Blacky out of Farmer Brown's corn-field early in the spring butthat is all he ever had had to do with him. Now, however, lonesome andlost as he was, the sound of a familiar voice made him tingle all overwith a friendly feeling. So he whined softly and wagged his tail feeblyas he looked up at Blacky sitting in the top of a tall tree. PresentlyBowser limped out to the middle of the little clearing and turned firstthis way and then that way. Then he sat down and howled dismally. In aninstant Blacky the Crow understood; Bowser was lost. 

"So that's the trouble, " muttered Blacky to himself. "That silly dog hasgot himself lost. I never will be able to understand how anybody canget lost. I never in my life was lost, and never expect to be. But it iseasy enough to see that Bowser is lost and badly lost. My goodness, howlame he is! I wonder what's happened to him. Serves him right forhunting other people, but I'm sorry for him just the same. What ahelpless creature a lost dog is, anyway. I suppose if he doesn't find ahouse pretty soon he will starve to death. Old Man Coyote wouldn't. Reddy Fox wouldn't. They would catch something to eat, no matter wherethey were. I suppose they wouldn't thank me for doing it, but just thesame I think I'll take pity on Bowser and help him out of his trouble. "

CHAPTER VIII

HOW BLACKY THE CROW HELPED BOWSER

 The blackest coat may cover the kindest heart. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

When Blacky the Crow said to himself that he guessed he would take pityon Bowser and help him out of his trouble, he knew that he could do itwithout very much trouble to himself. Perhaps if there had been verymuch trouble in it, Blacky would not have been quite so ready andwilling. Then again, perhaps it isn't fair to Blacky to think that hemight not have been willing. Even the most selfish people are sometimeskindly and unselfish. 

Blacky knew just where the nearest house was. You can always trustBlacky to know not only where every house is within sight of the placeshe frequents, but all about the people who live in each house. Blackymakes it his business to know these things. He could, if he would, tellyou which houses have terrible guns in them and which have not. It is byknowing such things that Blacky manages to avoid danger. 

"If that dog knows enough to follow me, I'll take him where he can atleast get something to eat, " muttered Blacky. "It won't be far out of myway, anyway, because if he has any sense at all, I won't have to go allthe way over there. "

So Blacky spread his black wings and disappeared over the tree-tops inthe direction of the nearest farmhouse. 

Bowser watched him disappear and whined sadly, for somehow it made himfeel more lonesome than before. But for one thing he would have goneback to his bed of hay in the corner of that sugar camp. That one thingwas hunger. It seemed to Bowser that his stomach was so empty that thevery sides of it had fallen in. He just _must_ get something to eat. 

So, after waiting a moment or two, Bowser turned and limped awaythrough the trees, and he limped in the direction which Blacky the Crowhad taken. You see, he could still hear Blacky's voice calling "Caw, caw, caw", and somehow it made him feel better, less lonesome, you know, to be within hearing of a voice he knew. 

Bowser had to go on three legs, for one leg had been so hurt in the fallover the bank that he could not put his foot to the ground. Then, too, he was very, very stiff from the cold and the wetting he had receivedthe night before. So poor Bowser made slow work of it, and Blacky theCrow almost lost patience waiting for him to appear. 

As soon as Bowser came in sight, Blacky gave what was intended for acheery caw and then headed straight for the place he had started forthat morning, giving no more thought to Bowser the Hound. You see, heknew that Bowser would shortly come to a road. "If he doesn't knowenough to follow that road, he deserves to starve, " thought Blacky. 

Bowser did know enough to follow that road. The instant he saw thatroad, he knew that if he kept on following it, it would lead himsomewhere. So with new hope in his heart, Bowser limped along. 

CHAPTER IX

OLD MAN COYOTE GIVES OUT DARK HINTS

 A little hint dropped there or here, Is like a seed in spring of year; It sprouts and grows, and none may say How big 'twill be some future day. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

After leading Bowser the Hound far, far away and getting him lost instrange country, Old Man Coyote trotted back to the Old Pasture, theGreen Forest, and the Green Meadows near Farmer Brown's. He didn't haveany trouble at all in finding his way back. You see, all the time he wasleading Bowser away, he himself was using his eyes and taking note ofwhere he was going. You can't lose Old Man Coyote. No, Sir, you can'tlose Old Man Coyote, and it is of no use to try. 

So, stopping two or three times to hunt a little by the way, Old ManCoyote trotted back. He managed to pick up a good meal on the way, andwhen at last he reached his home in the Old Pasture he was feeling verywell satisfied with the Great World in general and himself inparticular. 

He grinned as only Old Man Coyote can grin. "I don't think any of uswill be bothered by that meddlesome Bowser very soon again, " said he, ashe crept into his house for a nap. "If he had drowned in that river, Ishouldn't have cried over it. But even as it is, I don't think he willget back here in a hurry. I must pass the word along. "

So a day or so later, when Sammy Jay happened along, Old Man Coyoteasked him, in quite a matter-of-fact way, if he had seen anything ofBowser the Hound for a day or two. 

"Why do you ask?" said Sammy sharply. 

Old Man Coyote grinned slyly. "For no reason at all, Sammy. For noreason at all, " he replied. "It just popped into my head that I hadn'theard Bowser's voice for two or three days. It set me to wondering if heis sick, or if anything has happened to him. "

That was enough to start Sammy Jay straight for Farmer Brown's dooryard. Of course Bowser wasn't to be seen. Sammy hung around and watched. Twicehe saw Farmer Brown's boy come to the door with a worried look on hisface and heard him whistle and call for Bowser. Then there wasn't theslightest doubt in Sammy's mind that something had happened to Bowser. 

"Old Man Coyote knows something about it, too, " muttered Sammy, as heturned his head on one side and scratched his pointed cap thoughtfully. "He can't fool me. That old rascal knows where Bowser is, or what hashappened to him, and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he had somethingto do with it. I almost know he did from the way he grinned. "

The day was not half over before all through the Green Forest and overthe Green Meadows had spread the report that Bowser the Hound was nomore. 

CHAPTER X

HOW REDDY FOX INVESTIGATED

 In-vest-i-gate if you would know That something is or isn't so. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

To in-vest-i-gate something means to try to find out about it. Reddy Foxhad heard from so many different ones about the disappearance of Bowserthat he finally made up his mind that he would in-vest-i-gate and findout for himself if it were true that Bowser was no longer at home inFarmer Brown's dooryard. If it were true, --well, Reddy had certain plansof his own in regard to Farmer Brown's henhouse. 

Reddy had begun by doubting that story because it seemed to have comefirst from Old Man Coyote. Reddy would doubt anything with which Old ManCoyote was concerned. But Reddy had finally come to believe thatsomething certainly had happened because half a dozen times during theday he had heard Farmer Brown's boy whistle and whistle and call andcall. 

Just as soon as the Black Shadows came creeping out from the PurpleHills, Reddy started up towards Farmer Brown's. He didn't go directlythere, because he never goes directly anywhere if there is the leastchance in the world that any one may be watching him. But as he slippedalong in the blackest of the Black Shadows, he was all the time workingnearer and nearer to Farmer Brown's dooryard. Although he was inclinedto think it was true that Bowser was not there, he was far too wise totake any unnecessary risk. He approached Farmer Brown's dooryard just ascarefully as if he knew Bowser to be in his little house as usual. Hekept in the Black Shadows. He crouched so low that he seemed hardly morethan a Black Shadow himself. Every two or three steps he stopped tolook, listen, and test the air with his keen nose. 

As he drew near Bowser's own little house, Reddy circled out around ituntil he could see the doorway. Then he sat down where he could peekaround from behind a tree and watch. He had been there only a fewmoments when the back door of Farmer Brown's house opened and FarmerBrown's boy stepped out. Reddy didn't run. He knew that Farmer Brown'sboy would never dream that he would dare come so near. Besides, it wasvery clear that Farmer Brown's boy was thinking of no one but Bowser. Hewhistled and called just as he had done several times during the day. But no Bowser came, so after a while Farmer Brown's boy went back intothe house. There was a worried look on his face. 

As soon as he heard the door close, Reddy trotted right out in the openand sat down only a few feet from the black doorway of Bowser's littlehouse. Reddy barked softly. Then he barked a little louder. He knew thatif Bowser were at home, that bark would bring him out if nothing elsedid. Bowser didn't appear. Reddy grinned. He was sure now that Bowserwas nowhere about. Chuckling to himself, he turned and trotted towardsFarmer Brown's henhouse. 

CHAPTER XI

A LITTLE UNPLEASANTNESS

 Watch a Coyote most closely when it appears that he least needs watching. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Never in his life had Reddy Fox visited Farmer Brown's henhouse withquite such a comfortable feeling as he now had. He knew for a certaintythat Bowser the Hound was not at home. He knew because he had finallycrept up and peeped in the door of Bowser's little house. What hadbecome of Bowser he didn't know, and he didn't care. It was enough toknow that he wasn't about. 

"I hope Farmer Brown's boy has forgotten to close that little doorwaywhere the hens run in and out, " muttered Reddy, as he trotted acrossFarmer Brown's dooryard. Once he stopped, and looking up at the lightedwindows of the house, grinned. You see, with Bowser gone, Reddy wasn'tthe least bit afraid. 

"If I can get into that henhouse, " thought Reddy, "I certainly will haveone good feast to-night. That is, I will if those stupid hens are notroosting so high that I can't get them. I'll eat one right there. "Reddy's mouth watered at the very thought. "Then I'll take one home toMrs. Reddy. If there is time we both will come back for a couple more. "

So Reddy made pleasant plans as he approached Farmer Brown's henhouse. When he reached it he paused to listen to certain sounds within, certainfretful little cluckings. Reddy sat down for a minute with his tonguehanging out and the water actually dripping from it. He could shut hiseyes and see those roosts with the hens crowded together so that everyonce in a while one would be wakened and fretfully protest against beingcrowded so. 

But Reddy sat there only for a minute. He was too eager to find out ifit would prove to be possible to get inside that henhouse. Runningswiftly but cautiously past the henhouse and along one side of thehenyard, he peeped around the corner to see if by any chance the yardgate had been left open. His heart gave a leap of joy as he saw that thegate was not quite closed. All he would have to do would be to push itand enter. 

Reddy turned the corner quickly. Just as he put up one paw to push thegate open, a low but decidedly ugly growl made him jump back with everyhair of his coat standing on end. His first thought was of Bowser. Itmust be that Bowser had returned! Believing in safety first, Reddy didnot stop to see who had growled, but ran swiftly a short distance. Thenhe looked behind him. Over at the gate of Farmer Brown's henyard hecould see a dark form. At once Reddy knew that it wasn't Bowser theHound, for it had a bushy tail, while Bowser's was smooth. Reddy knewwho it was. It was Old Man Coyote. 

[Illustration: OVER AT THE GATE OF FARMER BROWN'S HENYARD HE COULD SEE ADARK FORM]

CHAPTER XII

THE CLEVERNESS OF OLD MAN COYOTE

 Who thinks the quickest and the best Is bound to win in every test. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

The meeting of Reddy Fox and Old Man Coyote just outside the gate toFarmer Brown's henyard had been wholly unexpected to both. Reddy hadbeen so eager to get inside that gate that when he turned the corner atthe henyard he hadn't looked beyond the gate. If he had looked beyond, he would have seen Old Man Coyote just coming around the other corner. As for Old Man Coyote, he had been so surprised at sight of Reddy Foxthat he had growled before he had had time to think. He was sorry thevery instant he did it. 

"That certainly was a stupid thing to do, " muttered Old Man Coyote tohimself, as he watched Reddy Fox run away in a panic. "I should havekept out of sight and let him open that gate and go inside first. Theremay be traps in there, for all I know. When there's likely to be danger, always let some one else find it out for you if you can. " Old Man Coyotegrinned as he said this. 

Reddy Fox sat down at a safe distance to watch what Old Man Coyotewould do. Inside, Reddy was fairly boiling with disappointment andanger. He felt that he hated Old Man Coyote more than he hated anybodyelse he knew of. He hated him, yet there wasn't a thing he could doabout it. He didn't dare fight Old Man Coyote. All he could do was tosit there at a safe distance and watch. 

The gate of the henyard was open two or three inches. For a long timeOld Man Coyote stood looking through that little opening. Once or twicehe thrust his nose out and sniffed cautiously around the gate, but hetook the greatest care not to touch it. Finally he turned and trottedaway towards the Green Forest. 

Reddy sat right where he was, so surprised that he couldn't even think. He waited a long time to see if Old Man Coyote would return, but Old ManCoyote didn't return, and at last Reddy cautiously crept towards thatunlocked gate. "I do believe that fellow didn't know enough to push thatgate open, " muttered Reddy to himself. "I always supposed Old Man Coyotewas smart, but if this is an example of his smartness I'll match my witsagainst his any day. "

All this time Old Man Coyote was not so far away as Reddy thought. Hehad gone only fat enough to make sure that Reddy couldn't see him. Then, creeping along in the blackest of the Black Shadows, he had returned toa place where he could watch Reddy. 

"It's queer that gate should have been left unlocked, " thought Old ManCoyote. "It may have been an accident, and again it may have been donepurposely. There may not be any danger inside; then again there may. I'mnot going to push that gate open or step inside when there is some oneto do it for me. I'll just leave it for Reddy Fox to do. "

CHAPTER XIII

THE MISCHIEVOUS LITTLE NIGHT BREEZE

 A little act of mischief can Upset the deepest, best laid plan. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Reddy Fox was very pleased with himself as he thought how much smarterhe was than Old Man Coyote. He didn't waste any time in pushing open thehenyard gate. It didn't enter his head that there might be a trapinside. He was so eager to find out if the little door where in daytimethe hens ran in and out of the henhouse was open, that he jumped insidethe henyard just as soon as the gate was pushed open wide enough for himto enter. 

Old Man Coyote, watching from his hiding place, saw Reddy push the gateopen and enter the henyard. "So far, so good, " muttered Old Man Coyoteto himself. "There isn't any trap just inside that gate, so it will besafe enough for me to follow Reddy in there. I think I'll wait a bit, however, and see what luck he has in getting into the henhouse. If hecatches a chicken he won't stop to eat it there. He won't dare to. All Ineed do is to wait right here around the corner, and if he brings achicken out, I'll simply tell him to drop it. Then I will have thechicken and will have run no risk. " You see Old Man Coyote is a very, very clever old sinner. 

So Old Man Coyote peeked through the wires and watched Reddy Fox, whothought himself so much smarter, steal swiftly across to the henhouseand try that little door. It was closed, but it wasn't fastened, asReddy could tell by poking at it. 

"It is just a matter of time and patience, " muttered Reddy to himself. "If I keep at it long enough, I can work it open. " You see Reddy haddone that very thing once before a great while ago. 

So he set himself to work with such patience as he could, and all thetime Old Man Coyote watched and wondered what Reddy was doing. Heguessed that Reddy was having some trouble, but also he knew fromReddy's actions that Reddy hoped to get inside that henhouse. 

Now Reddy had left the henyard gate ajar. If he had pushed it wide openthings might have been different. But he didn't push it wide open. Heleft it only halfway open. By and by there happened along a mischievouslittle Night Breeze. There is nothing that a mischievous little NightBreeze enjoys more than making things move. This mischievous littleNight Breeze found that that gate would swing, so it blew against thatgate and blew and blew until suddenly, with a sharp little click, thegate closed and the spring latch snapped into place. Reddy Fox was aprisoner!

CHAPTER XIV

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE

 You'll find 'twill often come about That he who's in fain would be out. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

It certainly is queer what a difference there is between being insideand outside. Sometimes happiness is inside and sometimes it is outside. Sometimes the one who is inside wishes with all his might that he wereoutside, and sometimes the one who is outside would give anything in theworld to be inside. 

Just take the case of Reddy Fox. He had stolen inside of Farmer Brown'shenyard, leaving the gate halfway open. He had set himself to work toopen the little sliding door through which in the daytime the henspassed in and out of the henhouse. As he worked he had been filled withgreat contentment and joy. He knew that Bowser the Hound haddisappeared. He felt sure that there was nothing to fear, and he fullyexpected to dine that night on chicken. Then along came a mischievouslittle Night Breeze and swung that gate shut. 

At the click of the latch Reddy turned his head, and in a flash he sawwhat had happened. All in an instant everything had changed for ReddyFox. Fear and despair took the place of contentment and happyanticipations. He was a prisoner inside that henyard. 

Frantically Reddy rushed over to the gate. There wasn't even a crackthrough which he could thrust his sharp little nose. Then, besidehimself with fear, he raced around that henyard, seeking a hole throughwhich he might escape. There wasn't any hole. That fence had been builtto keep out such people as Reddy Fox, and of course a fence that wouldkeep Reddy out would also keep him in, if he happened to be caughtinside as he now was. He couldn't dig down under it, because, you know, the ground was frozen hard and covered with snow and an icy crust. Hewas caught, and that was all there was to it. 

Suddenly Reddy became aware of some one just outside the wire fence, looking in and grinning wickedly. It was Old Man Coyote. Between themwas nothing but that wire, but, oh, what a difference! Reddy was insideand a prisoner. Old Man Coyote was outside and free. 

"Good evening, Reddy, " said Old Man Coyote. "I hope you'll enjoy yourchicken dinner. When you are eating it, just think over this bit ofadvice: Never take a risk when you can get some one else to take it foryou. I would like a chicken dinner myself, but as it is, I think I willenjoy a Mouse or two better. Pay my respects to Farmer Brown's boy whenhe comes in the morning. "

With this, Old Man Coyote once more grinned that wicked grin of his andtrotted away towards the Green Forest. Reddy watched him disappear andwould have given anything in the world to have been outside the fence inhis place instead of inside, where he then was. 

CHAPTER XV

REDDY'S FORLORN CHANCE

 This saying is both true and terse: There's nothing bad but might be worse. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

If any one had said this to Reddy Fox during the first half hour afterhe discovered that he was a prisoner in Farmer Brown's henyard, hewouldn't have believed it. He wouldn't have believed a word of it. Hewould have said that he couldn't possibly have been worse off than hewas. 

He was a prisoner, and he couldn't possibly get out. He knew that in themorning Farmer Brown's boy would certainly discover him. It couldn't beotherwise. That is, it couldn't be otherwise as long as he remained inthat henyard. There wasn't a thing, not one solitary thing, under orbehind which he could hide. So, to Reddy's way of thinking, thingscouldn't possibly have been worse. 

But after a while, having nothing else to do, Reddy began to think. Nowit is surprising how thinking will change matters. One of the firstthoughts that came to Reddy was that he might have been caught in atrap, --one of those cruel traps that close like a pair of jaws andsometimes break the bones of the foot or leg, and from which there isno escape. Right away Reddy realized that to have been so caught wouldhave been much worse than being a prisoner in Farmer Brown's henyard. This made him feel just a wee, wee bit better, and he began to do somemore thinking. 

For a long time his thinking didn't help him in the least. At last, however, he remembered the chicken dinner he had felt so sure he wasgoing to enjoy. The thought of the chicken dinner reminded him thatinside the henhouse it was dark. He had been inside that henhousebefore, and he knew that there were boxes in there. If he were insidethe henhouse, it might be, it just might possibly be, that he couldhide when Farmer Brown's boy came in the morning. 

So once more Reddy went to work at that little sliding door where thehens ran in and out during the day. He already had found out that itwasn't fastened, and he felt sure that with patience he could open it. So he worked away and worked away, until at last there was a littlecrack. He got his claws in the little crack and pulled and pulled. Thelittle crack became a little wider. By and by it was wide enough for himto get his whole paw in. Then it became wide enough for him to get hishead half in. After this, all he had to do was to force himselfthrough, for as he pushed and shoved, the little door opened. He wasinside at last! There was a chance, just a forlorn chance, that he mightbe able to escape the notice of Farmer Brown's boy in the morning. 

CHAPTER XVI

WHY REDDY WENT WITHOUT A CHICKEN DINNER

 A dinner is far better lost Than eaten at too great a cost. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Can you imagine Reddy Fox with a chicken dinner right before him and nottouching it? Well, that is just what happened in Farmer Brown'shenhouse. It wasn't because Reddy had no appetite. He was hungry, veryhungry. He always is in winter. Then it doesn't often happen that hegets enough to eat at one meal to really fill his stomach. Yet here hewas with a chicken dinner right before him, and he didn't touch it. 

You see it was this way: Reddy's wits were working very fast there inFarmer Brown's henhouse. He knew that he had only a forlorn chance ofescaping when Farmer Brown's boy should come to open the henhouse in themorning. He knew that he must make the most of that forlorn chance. Heknew that freedom is a thousand times better than a full stomach. 

On one of the lower roosts sat a fat hen. She was within easy jumpingdistance. Reddy knew that with one quick spring she would be his. If thehenyard gate had been open, he would have wasted no time in making thatone quick spring. But the henyard gate, as you know, was closed fast. 

"I'm awfully hungry, " muttered Reddy to himself, "but if I should catchand eat that fat hen, Farmer Brown's boy would be sure to notice thefeathers on the floor the very minute he opened the door. It won't do, Reddy; it won't do. You can't afford to have the least little thing seemwrong in this henhouse. What you have got to do is to swallow yourappetite and keep quiet in the darkest corner you can find, "

So Reddy Fox spent the rest of the night curled up in the darkestcorner, partly behind a box. All the time his nose was filled with thesmell of fat hens. Every little while a hen who was being crowded toomuch on the roost would stir uneasily and protest in a sleepy voice. Just think of what Reddy suffered. Just think how you would feel to bevery, very hungry and have right within reach the one thing you likebest in all the world to eat and then not dare touch it. Some foolishfolks in Reddy's place would have eaten that dinner and trusted to luckto get out of trouble later. But Reddy was far too wise to do anythingof that kind. 

Doing as Reddy did that night is called exercising self-restraint. Everybody should be able to do it. But it sometimes seems as if verymany people cannot do it. Anyway, they don't do it, and because theydon't do it they are forever getting into trouble. 

Reddy knew when morning came, although the henhouse was still dark. Somehow or other hens always know just when jolly, round, red Mr. Sunkicks his blankets off and begins his daily climb up in the blue, bluesky. The big rooster on the topmost perch stretched his long neck, flapped his wings, and crowed at the top of his voice. Reddy shivered. "It won't be long now before Farmer Brown's boy comes, " thought he. 

CHAPTER XVII

FARMER BROWN'S BOY DROPS A PAN OF CORN

 Who when surprised keeps calm and cool Is one most difficult to fool. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

In his lifetime Reddy Fox has spent many anxious moments, but none moreanxious than those in which he waited for Farmer Brown's boy to open thehenhouse and feed the biddies on this particular morning. 

From the moment when the big rooster on the topmost perch stretchedforth his neck, flapped his wings, and crowed as only he can crow, Reddywas on pins and needles, as the saying is. Hiding behind a box in thedarkest corner of the henhouse, he hardly dared to breathe. You see, hedidn't want those hens to discover him. He knew that if they did theywould make such a racket that they would bring Farmer Brown's boyhurrying out to find out what the trouble was. 

Reddy had had experience with hens before. He knew that if FarmerBrown's boy heard them making a great racket, he would know thatsomething was wrong, and he would come all prepared. This was the onething that Reddy did not want. His one chance to escape would be to takeFarmer Brown's boy entirely by surprise. 

Never had time dragged more slowly. The hens were awake, and several ofthem flew down to the floor of the henhouse. They passed so close towhere Reddy was hiding that merely by reaching out a black paw he couldhave touched them. Because he took particular pains not to move, noteven to twitch a black ear, they did not see him. Anyway, if they didsee him, they took no notice of him. How the moments did drag! All thetime he lay there listening, wishing that Farmer Brown's boy would come, yet dreading to have him come. It seemed ages before he heard soundswhich told him that people were awake in Farmer Brown's house. 

Finally he heard a distant door slam. Then he heard a whistle, a merrywhistle. It drew nearer and nearer; Farmer Brown's boy was coming tofeed the hens. Reddy tried to hold his breath. He heard the click of thehenyard gate as Farmer Brown's boy opened it, then he heard the crunch, crunch, crunch of Farmer Brown's boy's feet on the snow. 

Suddenly the henhouse door was thrown open and Farmer Brown's boystepped inside. In his hand he held a pan filled with the breakfast hehad brought for the hens. Suddenly a box in the darkest corner of thehenhouse moved. Farmer Brown's boy turned to look, and as he did so aslim form dashed fairly between his legs. It startled him so that hedropped the pan and spilled the corn all over the henhouse floor. "GreatScott!" he exclaimed. "What under the sun was that?" and rushed to thedoor to see. He was just in time to get a glimpse of a red coat and abushy tail disappearing around a corner of the barn. 

CHAPTER XVIII

MUTUAL RELIEF

 The wise Fox knows that with every chicken he steals he puts an increased price on his own skin. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

When Reddy Fox dashed between the legs of Farmer Brown's boy and out ofthe open door of the henhouse, it was with his heart in his mouth. Atleast, it seemed that way. Would he find the henyard gate open?Supposing Farmer Brown's boy had closed it after he entered! Reddy wouldthen be a prisoner just as he had been all night, and all hope wouldend. 

Just imagine with what terrible anxiety and eagerness Reddy lookedtowards that gate as he dashed out of the open door. Just imagine therelief that was his when he saw that the gate was open. In that veryinstant the snowy outside world became more beautiful and wonderful thanever it had been in all his life before. He was free! free! free!

If ever there was a surprised boy, that boy was Farmer Brown's as hewatched Reddy twist around a corner of the barn and disappear. 

"Reddy Fox!" he exclaimed. "Now how under the sun did that rascal get inhere?" Then, as he realized that Reddy had actually been inside thehenhouse, anxiety for the biddies swept over him. Hastily he turned, fully expecting to see either the bodies of two or three hens on thefloor, or scattered feathers to show that Reddy had enjoyed a midnightfeast. There were no feathers, and so far as he could see, all the henswere standing or walking about. 

At once Farmer Brown's boy began to count them. Of course, he knewexactly how many there should be. When he got through counting, not onewas missing. Farmer Brown's boy was puzzled. He counted them again. Thenhe counted them a third time. He began to think there must be somethingwrong with his counting. After the fourth count, however, he was forcedto believe that not a single one was missing. 

If Reddy Fox had been relieved when he discovered that henyard gateopen, Farmer Brown's boy was equally relieved when he found that not asingle biddie had been taken. When two people are relieved at the sametime, it is called mutual relief. But there was this difference betweenReddy Fox and Farmer Brown's boy: Reddy knew all about what hadhappened, and Farmer Brown's boy couldn't even guess. He went all aroundthat henhouse, trying to find a way by which Reddy Fox had managed toget in. Of course, he discovered that the little sliding door where thebiddies go in and out of the henhouse was open. He guessed that thiswas the way by which Reddy had entered. 

But this didn't explain matters at all. He knew that the gate had beenlatched when he entered the henyard that morning. How had Reddy managedto get into that henyard with that gate closed? To this day, FarmerBrown's boy is still wondering. 

CHAPTER XIX

WHERE WAS BOWSER THE HOUND?

 A good Hound never barks on a cold trail. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Where was Bowser the Hound? That was the question which was puzzling allthe little people who knew him. Also it was puzzling Farmer Brown's boyand Farmer Brown and Mrs. Brown. I have said that it was puzzling allthe little people who knew him. This is not quite true, because therewere two who could at least guess what had become of Bowser. One was OldMan Coyote, who had, as you remember, led Bowser far away and got himlost. The other was Blacky the Crow, who had discovered Bowser in histrouble and had helped him. 

Old Man Coyote didn't know exactly where Bowser was, and he wasn'tinterested enough to think much about it. He hoped that Bowser had beenso badly lost that he never would return. Blacky the Crow knew exactlywhere Bowser was, but he kept it to himself. It pleases Blacky to have asecret which other people would give much to know. Blacky is one ofthose people who can keep a secret. He isn't at all like Peter Rabbit. 

Reddy Fox was one who was very much interested in the fate of Bowserthe Hound. As day after day went by and Bowser did not appear, Reddy hada growing hope that he never would appear. 

"I can't imagine what Old Man Coyote could have done to Bowser, " saidReddy to himself. "He certainly couldn't have killed Bowser in a fight, for that old rascal would never in the world dare face Bowser the Houndin a fight. But he certainly has caused something to happen to Bowser. If that bothersome dog never returns, it certainly will make things alot easier for Granny Fox and myself. "

As for Farmer Brown's boy, he was as much puzzled as any of the littlepeople and a whole lot more worried. He drove all about theneighborhood, asking at every house if anything had been seen ofBowser, Nowhere did he get any trace of him. No one had seen him. It wasvery mysterious. Farmer Brown's boy had begun to suspect that Bowser hadmet with an accident somewhere off in the woods and had been unable toget help. It made Farmer Brown's boy very sad indeed. His cheery whistlewas no longer heard, for he did not feel like whistling. At last hequite gave up hope of ever again seeing Bowser. 

CHAPTER XX

WHERE BOWSER WAS

 When things are at their very worst, As bad, you think, as they can be, Just lay aside your feelings sad; The road ahead may turn, you see. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

You remember that Blacky the Crow led poor Bowser to an old road andthere left him. Blacky reasoned that if Bowser had any sense at all, hewould know that that road must lead somewhere and would follow it. If hedidn't have sense enough to do this, he deserved to starve or freeze, was the way Blacky reasoned it out. Of course Blacky knew exactly wherethe road would lead. 

Now Bowser did have sense. Of course he did. The minute he found thatroad, a great load was taken from his mind. He no longer felt whollylost. He was certain that all he had to do was to keep in that road, andsooner or later he would come to a house. The thing that worried himmost was whether or not he would have strength enough to keep goinguntil he reached that house. You remember that he was weak from lack offood, lame, and half frozen. 

Poor old Bowser! He certainly was the picture of misery as he limpedalong that road. His tail hung down as if he hadn't strength enough tohold it up. His head also hung low. He walked on three legs and limpedwith one of these. In his eyes was such a look of pain and suffering aswould have touched the hardest heart. He whined and whimpered as helimped along. 

It seemed to him that he had gone a terribly long distance, thoughreally it was not far at all, when something tickled his nose, thatwonderful nose which can smell the tracks of others long after they havepassed. But this time it wasn't the smell of a track that tickled hisnose; it was something in the air. Bowser lifted his head and sniffedlong and hard. What he smelled was smoke. He knew what that meant. Somewhere not very far ahead of him was a house. 

[Illustration: SOMEWHERE NOT VERY FAR AHEAD OF HIM WAS A HOUSE. _Page96. _]

With new hope and courage Bowser tried to hurry on. Presently around aturn of the road he saw a farmyard. The smell of the smoke from thechimney of the farmhouse was stronger now, and with it was mingled anappetizing smell of things cooking. Into Bowser's whimper there nowcrept a little note of eagerness as he dragged himself across thefarmyard and up to the back door. There his strength quite left him. Hedidn't have enough left to even bark. All he could do was whine. Afterwhat seemed a long, long time the door opened, and a motherly womanstood looking down at him. Two minutes later Bowser lay on a mat closeby the kitchen stove. 

CHAPTER XXI

BOWSER BECOMES A PRISONER

 There is no one in all the Great World more faithful than a faithful dog. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Bowser the Hound was a prisoner. Yes, Sir, Bowser was a sure-enoughprisoner. But there is a great difference in prisons. Bowser was aprisoner of kindness. It seems funny that kindness should ever make anyone a prisoner, but it is so sometimes. 

You see, it was this way: When Bowser had been taken in to that strangefarmhouse, he had been so used up that he had had only strength enoughto very feebly wag his tail. Right away the people in that farmhouseknew what had happened to Bowser. That is, they knew part of what hadhappened to him. They knew that he had been lost and had somehow hurtone leg. They were very, very good to him. They fed him, and made acomfortable bed for him, and rubbed something on the leg which he hadhurt and which had swollen. Almost right away after eating Bowser wentto sleep and slept and slept and slept. It was the very best thing hecould have done. 

The next day he felt a whole lot better, but he was so stiff and lamethat he could hardly move. He didn't try very much. He was petted andcared for quite as tenderly as he would have been at his own home. Soseveral days passed, and Bowser was beginning to feel more like himself. The more he felt like himself, the more he wanted to go home. It wasn'tthat there he would receive any greater kindness than he was nowreceiving, but home is home and there is no place like it. So Bowserbegan to be uneasy. 

"This dog doesn't belong anywhere around here, " said the man of thehouse. "I know every Hound for miles around, and I never have seen thisone before. He has come a long distance. It will not do to let him go, for he will try to find his way home and the chances are that he willagain get lost. We must keep him in the house or chained up. Perhapssome day we may be able to find his owner. If not, we will keep him. Iam sure he will soon become contented here. "

Now that man knew dogs. Had Bowser had the chance, he would have doneexactly what that man had said. He would have tried to find his wayhome, and he hadn't the least idea in the world in which direction homelay. But he didn't get the chance to try. When he was allowed to run outof doors it was always with some one to watch him. He was petted andbabied and made a great deal of, but he knew all the time that he was aprisoner. He knew that if he was to get away at all he would have tosneak away, and somehow there never seemed a chance to do this. He wasgrateful to these kindly people, but down in his heart was a greatlonging for Farmer Brown's boy and _home_. He always felt this longingjust a wee bit stronger when Blacky the Crow passed over and cawed. 

CHAPTER XXII

FARMER BROWN'S BOY LOOKS IN VAIN

 Loyalty is priceless and Is neither sold nor bought. Alas, how few who seem to know Its value as they ought. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

As I have told you, Farmer Brown's boy had been all about theneighborhood asking at each farmhouse if anything had been seen ofBowser. Of course nothing had been seen of him, and so at last FarmerBrown's boy felt sure that something dreadful had happened to Bowser inthe woods. 

For several days he tramped through the Green Forest and up through theOld Pasture, looking for signs of Bowser. His heart was heavy, for youknow Bowser was quite one of the family. He visited every place he couldthink of where he and Bowser had hunted together. He knew that by thistime Bowser couldn't possibly be alive if he had been caught by a footin a trap or had met with an accident in the woods. He had quite givenup all hope of ever seeing Bowser alive again. But he did want to knowjust what had happened to him, and so he kept searching and searching. 

One day Farmer Brown's boy heard that a strange dog had been found overin the next township. That afternoon he drove over there, his heartfilled with great hope. But he had his long ride for nothing, for whenhe got there he found that the strange dog was not Bowser at all. 

Meanwhile Old Man Coyote and Reddy Fox and Old Granny Fox had becomevery bold. They even came up around the henyard in broad daylight. 

"I believe you know something about what has become of Bowser, " FarmerBrown's boy said, as he chased Old Man Coyote away one day. "Youcertainly know that he isn't home, and I more than suspect that you know_why_ he isn't home. I certainly shall have to get another dog to teachyou not to be so bold. "

But somehow Farmer Brown's boy couldn't bring himself quite to takingsuch a step as getting a new dog. He felt that no other dog ever couldtake Bowser's place, and in spite of the fact that he thought he hadgiven up all hope of ever seeing Bowser again, 'way down deep inside wassomething which, if it were not hope, was something enough like it tokeep him from getting another dog in Bowser's place. 

Whenever he went about away from home, he kept an eye out for dogs inthe farmyards he passed. He did it without really thinking anythingabout it. He had given up hope of finding Bowser, yet he was alwayslooking for him. 

CHAPTER XXIII

BOWSER'S GREAT VOICE

 To long for home when far away Will rob of joy the brightest day. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

There is as much difference in the voices of dogs as in the voices ofhuman beings. For that matter, this is true of many of the little peoplewho wear fur. Bowser the Hound had a wonderful, deep, clear voice, avoice that could be heard a great distance. No one who knew it wouldever mistake it for the voice of any other Hound. 

As a rule, Bowser seldom used that great voice of his save when he washunting some one. Then, when the scent was strong, he gave tongue sofast that you wondered how he had breath enough left to run. But nowthat he was a prisoner of kindness, in the home of the people who hadtaken him in when he had crept to their doorstep, Bowser sometimes bayedfrom sheer homesickness. When he was tied out in the yard, he wouldsometimes get to thinking of his home and long to see Farmer Brown andMrs. Brown and especially his master, Farmer Brown's boy. Then, when hecould stand it no longer, he would open his mouth and send his greatvoice rolling across to the woods with a tone of mournfulness whichnever had been there before. 

But great as was Bowser's voice, and far as it would carry, there wasnone who knew him to hear it, save Blacky the Crow. You remember thatBlacky knew just where Bowser was and often flew over that farmyard tomake sure that Bowser was still there. So more than once Blacky heardBowser's great voice with its mournful note, and understood it. 

It troubled Blacky. Yes, Sir, it actually troubled Blacky. He knew justwhat was the matter with Bowser, but for the life of him he couldn'tthink of any way of helping Bowser. "That dog is homesick, " croakedBlacky, as he sat in the top of a tall tree, scratching his head as ifhe thought he might scratch an idea out of it. "Of course he doesn'tknow how to get home, and if he tried he probably would get as badlylost as he was before. Anyway, they don't give him a chance to try. Ican't lead Farmer Brown's boy over here because he doesn't understand mytalk, and I don't understand his. There isn't a thing I can do but keepwatch. I wish Bowser would stop barking. It makes me feel uncomfortable. Yes, Sir, it makes me feel uncomfortable. Old Man Coyote got Bowser intothis trouble, and he ought to get him out again, but I don't suppose itis the least bit of use to ask him. It won't do any harm to try, anyway. "

So Blacky started back for the Green Forest and the Old Pasture nearFarmer Brown's to look for Old Man Coyote, and for a long time as heflew he could hear Bowser's voice with its note of homesickness andlonging. 

CHAPTER XXIV

BLACKY TRIES TO GET HELP

 You'll find that nothing more worth while can be Than helping others whose distress you see. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

On his way back to the Green Forest near Farmer Brown's home, Blacky theCrow kept a sharp watch for Old Man Coyote. But Old Man Coyote wasnowhere to be seen, and it was too late to go look for him, becausejolly, round, red Mr. Sun had already gone to bed behind the PurpleHills and the Black Shadows were hurrying towards the Green Forest. 

Blacky never is out after dark. You might think that one with so blacka coat would be fond of the Black Shadows, but it isn't so at all. Thefact is, bold and impudent as Blacky the Crow is in daylight, he isafraid of the dark. He is quite as timid as anybody I know of in thedark. So Blacky always contrives to go to bed early and is securelyhidden away in his secret roosting-place by the time the Black Shadowsreach the edge of the Green Forest. 

Perhaps it isn't quite fair to say that Blacky is afraid of the dark. Itisn't the dark itself that Blacky fears, but it is one who is abroad inthe dark. It is Hooty the Owl. Hooty would just as soon dine on Blackythe Crow as he would on any one else, and Blacky knows it. 

The next morning, bright and early, Blacky flew over to the Old Pastureto the home of Old Man Coyote. Just as he got there he saw Old ManCoyote coming home from an all-night hunt. "I hope you have had goodhunting, " said Blacky politely. 

Old Man Coyote looked up at Blacky sharply. Blacky is polite only whenhe wants to get something. "There was plenty of hunting, but littleenough reward for it, " replied Old Man Coyote. "What brings you overhere so early? I should suppose you would be looking for a breakfast. "

Now Blacky the Crow is a very wise fellow. He knows when it is to besly and crafty and when it is best to be frank and out-spoken. This wasa time for the latter. "I know where Bowser the Hound is, " said Blacky. "I saw him yesterday. "

Old Man Coyote pricked up his ears and grinned. "I thought he was dead, "said he. "It's a long time since we've heard from Bowser. Is he well?"

"Quite well, " replied Blacky, "but unhappy. He is homesick. I suspectthat the trouble with Bowser is that he hasn't the least idea in whichdirection home lies. You enjoy running, so why not go with me to payBowser a visit and then lead him back home?"

Old Man Coyote threw back his head and laughed in that crazy fashion ofhis till the very hills rang with the sound of his voice. 

CHAPTER XXV

BLACKY CALLS ON REDDY FOX

 Saying what you mean, and meaning what you say Are matters quite as different as night is from the day. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Blacky the Crow wasted no time with Old Man Coyote after he heard OldMan Coyote laugh. There was a note in that crazy laugh of Old ManCoyote's that told Blacky he might just as well talk to the rocks or thetrees about helping Bowser the Hound. Old Man Coyote had led Bowser intohis trouble, and it was quite clear that not only did he have noregrets, but he was actually glad that Bowser was not likely to return. 

"You're a hard-hearted old sinner, " declared Blacky, as he prepared tofly in search of Reddy Fox. 

Old Man Coyote grinned. "It is every one for himself, you know, " saidhe. "Bowser would do his best to catch me if he had the chance. So if heis in trouble, he can stay there for all of me. "

It didn't take Blacky long to find Reddy Fox. You see, it was so earlyin the morning that Reddy had not retired for his daily nap. Like OldMan Coyote, he was just returning from a night's hunt when Blackyarrived. 

"Hello, Reddy!" exclaimed Blacky. "You certainly are looking in mightyfine condition. That red coat of yours is the handsomest coat I've everseen. If I had a coat like that I know I should be so swelled up withpride that I just wouldn't be able to see common folks. I'm glad you'renot that way, Reddy. One of the things I like about you is the fact thatyou never allow your fine coat to make you proud. That is more than Ican say for some folks I know. "

Reddy Fox sat down with his big bushy tail curled around to keep histoes warm, cocked his head on one side, and looked up at Blacky the Crowas if he were trying to see right inside that black head to find outwhat was going on there. 

"Now what has that black scamp got in his mind, " thought Reddy. "Henever pays compliments unless he wants something in return. That oldblack rascal has the smoothest tongue in the Green Forest. He hasn'tcome 'way over here just to tell me that I have a handsome coat. Hewouldn't fly over a fence to tell anybody that unless it was for apurpose. "

Aloud he said, "Good morning, Blacky. I suppose I must admit I have afine coat. Perhaps I do look very fine, but if you could see under thisred coat of mine, you would find mighty little meat on my ribs. To bequite honest, I am not feeling half as fine as I look. You luckyfellows who can fly and don't have to think about distances may be ableto live well these days, but as for me, I've forgotten when last I had agood meal. "

CHAPTER XXVI

RED WITS AND BLACK WITS

 This fact you'll find is always so: He's quick of wit who fools a Crow. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

There is no greater flatterer in the Green Forest or on the GreenMeadows than Blacky the Crow when he hopes to gain something thereby. His tongue is so smooth that it is a wonder it does not drip oil. He iscrafty, is Blacky. But these same things are true of Reddy Fox. No oneever yet had a chance to accuse Reddy Fox of lacking in sharp wits. Mistakes he makes, as everybody does, but Reddy's wits are always keenand active. 

Now Reddy knew perfectly well that Blacky wanted something of him, andthis was why he was saying such pleasant things. Blacky the Crow knewthat Reddy knew this thing, and that if he would make use of Reddy as hehoped to, he must contrive to keep Reddy wholly in the dark as to whathe wanted done. 

So as they sat there, Reddy Fox on the snow with his tail curled aroundhis feet to keep them warm, and Blacky the Crow in the top of a littletree above Reddy's head, they were playing a sort of game. It was redwits against black wits. Reddy was trying to outguess Blacky, andBlacky was trying to outguess Reddy, and both were enjoying it. Peoplewith sharp wits always enjoy matching their wits against other sharpwits. 

When Reddy Fox said that in spite of his fine appearance he hadforgotten when last he had had a good meal, Blacky pretended to think hewas joking. "You surprise me, " said he. "Whatever is the matter with mygood friend Reddy, that he goes hungry when he no longer has anything tofear from Bowser the Hound. By the way, I saw Bowser the other day. "

At this, just for an instant, Reddy's eyes flew wide open. Then theyhalf closed again until they were just two yellow slits. But quickly ashe closed them, Blacky had seen that startled surprise. "Yes, " saidBlacky, "I saw Bowser the other day, or at least some one who lookedjust like him. Wouldn't you like to have him back here, Reddy?"

"Most decidedly no, " replied Reddy with great promptness. "A dog is anuisance. He isn't of any use in the wide, wide world. "

"Not even to drive off Old Man Coyote?" asked Blacky slyly, for he knewthat more than once Bowser the Hound had helped Reddy out of troublewith Old Man Coyote. 

Reddy pretended not to hear this. "I don't believe you saw Bowser, "said he. "I don't believe anybody will ever see Bowser again. I hopenot, anyway. " And Blacky knew by the way Reddy said this that it wouldbe quite useless to ask Reddy to help get Bowser home. 

CHAPTER XXVII

THE ARTFULNESS OF BLACKY

 Who runs in circles never gets far. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

To be artful is to be very clever. It is to do things in a way so cleverthat people will not see what you are really doing. No one can be moreartful than Blacky the Crow when he sets out to be. 

Blacky was smart enough not to let Reddy know that he was seekingReddy's help for Bowser. He soon found out that Reddy would notknowingly help the least little bit, so he decided at once that theonly thing for him to do was to get Reddy to help unsuspectingly. Hechanged the subject very abruptly. 

"How are the chickens at Farmer Brown's?" inquired he. 

Reddy looked up and grinned. "They seem to be in just as good health asever, " said he, "so far as I can judge. Farmer Brown's boy seems to beterribly suspicious. He locks them up at night so tight that not evenShadow the Weasel could get his nose inside that henhouse. "

Blacky's eyes twinkled, but he took care that Reddy should not see them. "Farmer Brown's boy is different from some folks I know, " said he. 

"How's that?" demanded Reddy Fox. 

"Why, " replied Blacky, "there is a certain farmyard I know of where thehens are not kept shut up at all in the daytime, but run around wherethey please. I see them every day when I am flying over. They certainlyare fine-looking hens. I don't think I've ever seen fatter ones. Some ofthem are so fat they can hardly run. "

As Reddy Fox listened, a look of eagerness crept into his eyes, and hismouth began to water. He just couldn't help it. "Where did you say thosehens are?" he asked, trying to speak carelessly. 

"I didn't say, " replied Blacky, turning his head aside to hide a grin. "It is a long way from here, Reddy, so I don't believe you would reallybe interested. "

"That all depends, " replied Reddy. "I would go a long way if it wereworth while. I don't suppose you noticed if there were any dogs aboutwhere those hens are?"

Blacky pretended not to hear this. "I've often thought, " said he, "ofyou and Mrs. Reddy as I have looked down at those fat hens. It is toobad that they are so far away. "

CHAPTER XXVIII

REDDY FOX DREAMS OF CHICKENS

 It's a poor watch-dog who sleeps with both eyes closed. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Reddy Fox watched Blacky the Crow grow smaller and smaller until he wasjust a black speck in the distance. Finally he disappeared. Reddy lookedvery thoughtful. He looked that way because he _was_ thoughtful. Infact, Reddy was doing a lot of hard thinking. He was thinking aboutthose chickens Blacky had told him of. The more he thought of them, thehungrier he grew. You see, Reddy had been having rather a hard time toget enough to eat. 

"Yes, Sir, " said Reddy to himself, "I would go a long, long distance toget a good plump hen. I wish I knew just where that farm is that thatblack rascal talked about. I wonder if he has gone that way now. If Iwere sure that he has, I would make a little journey in that directionmyself. But I'm not sure. That black rascal flies all over the country. That farm may lie in the direction he has gone now, and it may be inquite the opposite direction. Somehow I've got to find out in just whichdirection it is. "

Reddy yawned, for he had been out all night, and he was sleepy. Hedecided that the best thing he could do would be to get a good rest. Onemust always be fit if one is to get on in this life. The harder one mustwork, the more fit one should keep, and a proper amount of sleep is oneof the most necessary things in keeping fit. So Reddy curled up tosleep. 

Hardly had his eyes closed when he began to dream. You see, he had beenthinking so hard about those fat hens, and he was so hungry for one ofthem, that right away he began to dream of fat hens. It was a beautifuldream. At least, it was a beautiful dream to Reddy. Fat hens were allabout him. They were so fat that they could hardly walk. Not only werethey fat, but they seemed to think that their one object in life was tofill the stomachs of hungry foxes, for they just stood about waiting tobe caught. 

Never in all his life had Reddy Fox known anything so wonderful as wasthat dream. There were no dogs to worry him. There were no hunters withdreadful guns. All he had to do was to reach out and help himself to asmany fat hens as he wanted. He ate and ate and ate, all in his dream, you know, and when he could eat no more he started for home. When hestarted for home the fat hens that were left started along with him. Heled a procession of fat hens straight over to his home in the OldPasture. 

Just imagine how Reddy felt when at last he awoke and there was not somuch as a feather from a fat hen anywhere about, while his stomachfairly ached with emptiness. 

CHAPTER XXIX

REDDY TRIES TO AROUSE BLACKY'S PITY

 Trust a Fox only as far as you can see him, and lock the chickens up before you do that. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

All the next night, as Reddy Fox hunted and hunted for something to eat, he kept thinking of that dream of fat hens, and he kept wondering how hecould get Blacky the Crow to tell him just where that farm with fat henswas. Blacky on his part had spent a whole day wondering how he couldinduce Reddy Fox to make that long journey over to where Bowser theHound was a prisoner of kindness. Blacky was smart enough to know thatif he seemed too anxious for Reddy to make that long journey, Reddywould at once suspect something. He knew well enough that if Reddy hadany idea that Bowser the Hound was over there, nothing would tempt himto make the trip. 

Early the next morning, just as on the morning before, Blacky stoppedover by Reddy's house. This time Reddy was already home. Actually he waswaiting for Blacky, though he wouldn't have had Blacky know it for theworld. As soon as he saw Blacky coming, he lay down on his doorstep andpretended not to see Blacky at all. 

"Good morning, Reddy, " said Blacky, as he alighted in the top of alittle tree close by. 

Reddy raised his head as if it were all he could do to lift it. "Goodmorning, Blacky, " said he in a feeble voice. 

Blacky looked at him sharply. "What's the matter, Reddy?" he demanded. "You seem to be feeling badly. "

Reddy sighed. It was a long, doleful sigh. "I am feeling badly, Blacky, "said he. "I never felt worse in my life. The truth is I--I--I--" Reddypaused. 

"You what?" demanded Blacky, looking at Reddy more sharply than ever. 

"I am starving, " said Reddy very feebly. "I certainly shall starve todeath unless I can find some way of getting at least one good meal soon. You have no idea, Blacky, how dreadful it is to be hungry all the time. "Again Reddy sighed, and followed this with a second sigh and then athird sigh. 

Blacky looked behind him so that Reddy might not see the twinkle in hiseyes. For Blacky understood perfectly what Reddy was trying to do. Reddywasn't fooling him a bit. When he looked back at Reddy he was verygrave. He was doing his best to look very sympathetic. 

"I'm right sorry to hear this, Reddy, " said he. "I certainly am. I'vebeen hungry myself more than once. It seems a pity that you should bestarving here when over on that farm I told you about yesterday are fathens to be had for the taking. If you were not so weak, I would betempted to show you where they are. "

CHAPTER XXX

BLACKY THE CROW IS ALL PITY

 People who think that they are fooling others very often discover that they have been fooling themselves. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

To have seen and heard Blacky the Crow as he talked to Reddy Fox, youwould have thought that there was nothing under the sun in his heart ormind but pity. "Yes, Sir, " said he, "I certainly would be tempted toshow you where those fat hens are if you were not too weak. I just can'tbear to see an old friend starve. It is too bad that those fat hens areso far away. I feel sure that one of them would make you quite yourselfagain. "

"Don't--don't talk about them, " said Reddy feebly. "If I could have justone fat hen that is all I would ask. Are they so very far from here?"

Blacky nodded his head vigorously. "Yes, " said he, "they are a long wayfrom here. They are such a long way that I'm afraid you are too weak tomake the journey. If you were quite yourself you could do it nicely, butfor one in your condition it is, I fear, altogether too long a journey. "

"It wouldn't do any harm to try it, perhaps, " suggested Reddy, in ahesitating way. "It is no worse to starve to death in one place thananother, and I never was one to give up without trying. If you don'tmind showing me the way, Brother Blacky, I would at least like to try toreach that place where the fat hens are. Of course I cannot keep up withyou. In fact, I couldn't if I were feeling well and strong. Perhaps youcan tell me just how to find that place, and then I needn't bother youat all. "

Blacky pretended to be lost in thought while Reddy watched himanxiously. Finally Blacky spoke. "It certainly makes my heart ache tosee you in such a condition, Brother Reddy, " said he. "I tell you whatI'll do. You know Crows are famous for flying in a straight line when wewant to get to any place in particular. I will fly straight towards thatfarm where the fat hens are. You follow along as best you can. In yourfeeble condition it will take you a long time to get anywhere nearthere. This will give me time to go hunt for my own dinner, and then Iwill come back until I meet you. After that, I will show you the way. Now I will start along and you follow. "

Reddy got to his feet as if it were hard work. Then Blacky spread hiswings and started off, cawing encouragement. All the time inside he waslaughing to think that Reddy Fox should think he had fooled him. "Heforgot to ask again if there is a dog there, " chuckled Blacky tohimself. 

As for Reddy, no sooner was Blacky well on his way than he started offat his swiftest pace. There was nothing weak or feeble in the way Reddyran then. He was in a hurry to get to those fat hens. 

CHAPTER XXXI

BLACKY IS MUCH PLEASED WITH HIMSELF

 You cannot tell from a single feather what a bird looks like, nor from a lone hair how big a dog is. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Straight away towards the farm where Bowser the Hound was flew Blackythe Crow. Every few minutes he would caw encouragement to Reddy Fox, who, as you know, was following, but who of course could not travel asfast as did Blacky. In between times Blacky would chuckle to himself. Hewas mightily pleased with himself, was Blacky. 

In the first place his plan was working beautifully. You know what hewas after was to get Reddy Fox over to that farm where Bowser was. Hehoped that if Reddy should catch one of those fat hens, the farmer wouldput Bowser on Reddy's trail. He knew that Reddy would probably returnstraight home, and Bowser, following Reddy's trail, would thus find hisway back home to Farmer Brown's. Of course, it all depended on whetherReddy would catch one of those fat hens and whether Bowser would beallowed to hunt him. Blacky had a plan for making sure that if Reddy didget one of those hens the folks in the farmhouse would know it. 

But what tickled Blacky most the knowledge that Reddy Fox thought he wasfooling Blacky. You remember that Reddy had pretended to be very weak. Blacky knew that Reddy was nothing of the kind. At the very firstopportunity Blacky stopped in the top of a tall tree as if to rest. Hisreal reason for stopping was to have a chance to look back. You see, while he was flying he couldn't look behind him. 

Presently, just as he expected, he saw in the distance a little redspeck, and that little red speck was moving very fast indeed. There wasnothing weak or feeble in the way that red speck was coming across thesnow-covered fields. Blacky chuckled hoarsely. 

Nearer and nearer came the red speck, and of course the nearer it camethe larger it grew. Presently it stopped moving fast. It began to moveslowly and stop every once in a while, as if to rest. Blacky laughedright out. He knew then that Reddy Fox had discovered him sitting in thetop of that tall tree and was once more pretending. It was a sort of agame, a game that Blacky thoroughly enjoyed. 

As soon as he knew that Reddy had discovered him, he once more spreadhis black wings and started on. The same thing happened over again. Infact, Blacky did not fly far this time before once more waiting. It wasgreat fun to see Reddy suddenly pretend that he was too weak to run. Itwas such fun that Blacky quite forgot that he had had no breakfast. 

Yes, Blacky the Crow was very much pleased with himself. It looked verymuch as if he would succeed in helping Bowser the Hound. This pleasedhim. But it pleased him still more to know that he was fooling cleverReddy Fox while Reddy thought he was the one who was doing the fooling. 

CHAPTER XXXII

BLACKY WAITS FOR REDDY

 Be wise, my friends, and do not fail To trust a dog who wags his tail. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Just before reaching the farm where the fat hens and Bowser the Houndwere, Blacky waited for Reddy Fox to catch up. It was some time beforeReddy appeared, for he wasn't traveling as fast now as when he hadstarted out. You see, that farm really was a very long way from the OldPasture where Reddy lives and Reddy had run very hard, because, youknow, he was so anxious to get one of those fat hens. 

As soon as Blacky saw him he hid in the thick branches of a tallpine-tree. Reddy didn't see him. In fact, Blacky had been so far aheadthat Reddy had lost sight of him some time before. Out of the bushestrotted Reddy. His tongue was hanging out just a little, and he waspanting. Blacky was just about to speak when Reddy stopped. He stood asstill as if he had suddenly been frozen stiff. His sharp black ears werecocked forward, and his head was turned just a little to one side. Reddywas listening. He was listening for the voice of Blacky. You see, hethought Blacky was still far ahead of him. 

For several minutes Reddy stood listening with all his might, andBlacky's sharp eyes twinkled as he looked down, watching Reddy. SuddenlyReddy sat down. There was an expression on his sharp face which Blackyunderstood perfectly. It was quite plain that Reddy was becomingsuspicious. He had begun to suspect that he had been tricked by Blackyand led so far away from home for nothing. 

Down inside Blacky chuckled. It was a noiseless chuckle, for Blacky didnot intend to give himself away until he had to. But when at last he sawthat Reddy was beginning to get uneasy, Blacky spoke. "You seem to befeeling better, Brother Reddy, " said he. "You must excuse me forkeeping you waiting, but I did not suppose that any one so weak andfeeble as you appeared to be early this morning could possibly get hereso soon. "

At the sound of Blacky's voice, Reddy was so startled that he jumpedquite as if he had sat down on a prickly briar. He was sharp enough toknow that it was no longer of any use to pretend. "I'm feeling better, "said he. "The thought of those fat hens has quite restored my strength. Did you say that they are near here?"

"I didn't say, but--" Blacky didn't finish. He didn't need to. From theother side of a little swamp in front of them a rooster crowed. Thatwas answer enough! Reddy's yellow eyes gleamed. In an instant he was onhis feet, the picture of alertness. 

"Are you satisfied that I told the truth?" asked Blacky. Reddy nodded. 

CHAPTER XXXIII

REDDY WATCHES THE FAT HENS

 Sooner or later the crookedest trail will straighten. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

At the sound of that rooster's voice on the other side of the littleswamp, Reddy became a changed Fox. Could you have been sitting where youcould have seen him, as did Blacky the Crow, you never, never would haveguessed that Reddy had run a very long distance and was tired. He didnot even glance up at Blacky. He did not even say thank you to Blackyfor having shown him the way. He looked neither to the right nor to theleft, but with eyes fixed eagerly ahead, began to steal forward swiftly. 

Making no sound, for Reddy can step very lightly when he chooses to, hetrotted quickly through the little swamp until he drew near the otherside. Then he crouched close to the snow-covered ground and began tosteal from bush to bush until he reached the trunk of a fallen tree onthe very edge of the swamp. To this he crawled on his stomach and peepedaround the end of it. 

Everything was as Blacky the Crow had said. Not far away was a farmyard, and walking about in it was a big rooster, lording it over a largeflock of fat hens. They were not shut in by a wire fence as were FarmerBrown's hens. Some were taking a sun bath just in front of the barndoor. Others were scattered about, picking up bits of food which hadbeen thrown out for them. A few were scratching in some straw in thecowyard. In the barn a horse stamped. From the farmhouse sounded thevoice of a woman singing. Once the door of the farmhouse opened, and anappetizing odor floated out to tickle the nose of Reddy. 

Reddy looked sharply for signs of a dog. Not one could he see. If therewas a dog, he must be either in the barn or in the house. It was quiteclear to Reddy that no Fox had bothered this flock of fat hens. He wassorely tempted to rush out and grab one of them at once, but he didn't. He was far too clever to do anything like that until he was absolutelysure that it would be safe. 

So Reddy lay flat behind the old tree trunk, with just his nose and hiseyes showing around the end of it, and studied what would be best to do. He was sure that he could get one of those fat hens, but he wanted more. Early that morning Reddy would have been quite contented with one, butnow that he was sure that he could get one, he wanted more. If he weretoo bold and frightened those hens while catching one, they would makesuch a racket that they would be sure to bring some one from thefarmhouse. The thing to do was to be patient until he could catch onewithout alarming the others. Then perhaps he would be able to catchanother. Reddy decided to be patient and wait. 

CHAPTER XXXIV

PATIENCE AND IMPATIENCE

 Patience is a virtue In a cause that's right. In a cause that isn't, It's a cause for fright. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

One of the first things that the little people of the Green Forest andthe Green Meadows who hunt other little people learn is patience. Sometimes it takes a long time to learn this, but it is a necessarylesson. Reddy Fox had learned it. Reddy knew that often even hiscleverness would not succeed without patience. When he was young he hadlost many a good meal through impatience. 

Reddy could not remember when he had been more hungry than he was now. Lying there behind the fallen tree, watching the fat hens walking aboutunsuspectingly just a little way from him, it seemed to him that hesimply must rush out and catch one of them. But Reddy was smart enoughto know that if he did this there would at once be such a screaming andsquawking that some one would be sure to rush out from the farmhouse tofind out what was going on. If he were discovered, there would be smallchance for him to get another fat hen. Reddy is keen enough to make themost of an opportunity. He knew that if he could get one of these henswithout frightening the others, he would have a chance to get another. He might have a chance to get several in this way. 

So, though he was so eager and so hungry, he made himself keep perfectlystill, while he studied out a plan. By and by he stole ever so carefullyaround back of the barn to the cowyard. Some of those fat hens werescratching in the straw of the cowyard. Just outside the cowyard was apile of old boards. Reddy crawled behind this pile of old boards andthen crouched and settled himself to be patient. He knew that sooner orlater one of those fat hens would be likely to come out of the cowyard. In this way he might be able to catch one without the others knowing athing about it. 

Blacky the Crow sat in the top of a tall tree where he could see allthat was going on. Blacky was as impatient as Reddy was patient. "Whydoesn't the red rascal rush in and get one of those fat hens?" mutteredBlacky. "What is the matter with him, anyway? I wonder if he is afraid. He could catch one of them without half trying, and there he lies as ifhe expected them to run right into his mouth. I don't want to sit hereall day. Yet I can't do a thing until he catches one of those hens. "

So Reddy waited patiently and Blacky waited impatiently, and the fathens wandered about unsuspectingly, and for a long, long time nothinghappened. 

CHAPTER XXXV

THINGS HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE

 The cleverest Fox is almost certain to visit the chicken yard once too often. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Jolly, round, bright Mr. Sun, high in the blue, blue sky, looked down onas peaceful a scene as ever was. In the cowyard back of the barn of thisparticular farm stood several cows contentedly chewing their cuds asthey took their daily airing. Half a dozen fat hens were walking aboutamong them and scratching in the straw. Out in the farmyard in front ofthe barn were many more fat hens. Behind a pile of old boards justoutside the cowyard was a spot of red. In the top of a tall tree not fardistant was a spot of black. The smoke from the chimney of the farmhousefloated skyward in a lazy way. Looking down on the Great World, jolly, round, bright Mr. Sun saw no more peaceful scene anywhere. 

By and by a fat hen walked over to the bars of the cowyard and hopped upon the lower bar. There she sat for some time. Then, making up her mindthat she would see what was outside, she hopped down and walked over tothe pile of old boards. Right then things happened all at once. That redspot behind the pile of old boards suddenly came to life. There was aquick spring, and that fat hen was seized by the neck so suddenly thatshe didn't have time to make a sound. At the same instant the black spotin the top of the tall tree came to life, and Blacky the Crow flew overto the roof of the barn, screaming at the top of his lungs. Now thosewho know Blacky well, know when he is screaming "Fox! Fox! Fox!"although it sounds as if he were saying "Caw! Caw! Caw!"

In a moment the door of the farmhouse flew open, and a man stepped outwith a dog at his heels. The man looked up at Blacky, and he knew byBlacky's actions that something was going on back of the barn. Rightaway he guessed that there must be a Fox there, and calling the dog tofollow, he ran around to see what was happening. Of course Reddy heardhim coming, and with a little snarl of anger at Blacky the Crow, heseized the fat hen by the neck, threw her body over his shoulder, andstarted for the near-by swamp as fast as his legs could take him. 

Just as Reddy reached the edge of the swamp, he heard the roar of agreat voice behind him. He knew that voice. It was the voice of Bowserthe Hound. It could be no one else but Bowser who was behind him, forthere was no other voice quite like his. Dismay awoke in Reddy's heart. He knew that Bowser was wise to the tricks of Foxes, and that he wouldhave to use all his cunning to get rid of Bowser. To do it he would haveto drop that fat hen he had come so far to get. Do you wonder that Reddywas dismayed?

CHAPTER XXXVI

REDDY HIDES THE FAT HEN

 Dishonesty will run away Where Honesty will boldly stay. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Reddy Fox was in a fix! He certainly was in a fix! Here he was with thefat hen which he had come such a long, long way to get, and no chance toeat it, for Bowser the Hound was on his trail. Ordinarily Reddy Fox canrun faster than can Bowser, but it is one thing to run with nothing tocarry, and another thing altogether to with a burden as heavy as a fathen. Reddy's wits were working quite as fast as his legs. 

"I can't carry this fat hen far, " thought Reddy, "for Bowser will surelycatch me. I don't want to drop it, because I have come such a long wayto get it, and goodness knows when I will be able to catch another. Thething for me to do is to hide it where I can come back and get it afterI get rid of that pesky dog. Goodness, what a noise he makes!"

As he ran, Reddy watched sharply this way and that way for a place tohide the fat hen. He knew he must find a place soon, because alreadythat fat hen was growing very heavy. Presently he spied the hollow stumpof a tree. He didn't know it was hollow when he first saw it, but fromits looks he thought it might be. The top of it was only about two feetabove the ground. Reddy stopped and stood up on his hind legs so as tosee if the top of that stump was hollow. It was. With a quick look thisway and that way to make sure he wasn't seen, he tossed the fat hen overinto the hollow and then, with a sigh of relief, darted away. 

With the weight of that fat hen off his shoulders, and the worry aboutit off his mind, Reddy could give all his attention to getting rid ofBowser the Hound. He had no intention of running any farther than hemust. In the first place he had traveled so far that he did not feellike running. In the second place he wanted to get back to that hollowstump and the fat hen just as soon as possible. 

It wasn't long before Reddy realized that it was not going to be so easyto fool Bowser the Hound. Bowser was too wise to be fooled by commontricks such as breaking the trail by jumping far to one side afterrunning back on his own tracks a little way; or by running along afallen tree and jumping from the end of it as far as he could. Of coursehe tried these tricks, but each time Bowser simply made a big circlewith his nose to the ground and picked up Reddy's new trail. 

Reddy didn't know that country about there at all, and little by littlehe began to realize how much this meant. At home he knew every foot ofthe ground for a long distance in every direction. This made all thedifference in the world, because he knew just how to play all kinds oftricks. But here it was different. It seemed to him that all he could dowas to run and run. 

CHAPTER XXXVII

FARMER BROWN'S BOY HAS A GLAD SURPRISE

 The sweetest sound in the world is the voice of one you love. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Farmer Brown's boy had an errand which took him far from home. Heharnessed the horse to a sleigh and started off right after dinner. Nowit happened that his errand took him in the direction of the farm whereBowser the Hound had been taken such good care of, and where Reddy Foxhad that very day caught the fat hen. Farmer Brown's boy was notthinking of Bowser. You see, he had already visited most of the farms inthat direction in his search for Bowser and had found no trace of him. 

It was a beautiful day to be sleighing, and Farmer Brown's boy waswhistling merrily, for there is nothing he enjoys more than a sleighride. He had almost reached the place he had started for when 'way offacross the fields to his right he heard a dog. Now Farmer Brown's boyenjoys listening to the sound of a Hound chasing a Fox. There issomething about it which stirs the blood. He stopped whistling andstopped the horse in order that he might listen better. 

At first that sound was very, very faint, but as Farmer Brown's boylistened, it grew louder and clearer. Suddenly Farmer Brown's boy leapedup excitedly. "That's Bowser!" he cried. "As sure as I live that's goodold Bowser! I would know that voice among a million!"

He leaped from the sleigh and tied the horse. Then he climbed over thefence and began to run across the snow-covered fields. He could tellfrom the sound in what direction Bowser was running. He could tell fromthe appearance of the country about where Reddy Fox would be likely tolead Bowser, and he ran for a place which he felt sure Reddy would belikely to pass. 

Louder and louder sounded the great voice of Bowser, and faster andfaster ran Farmer Brown's boy to reach that place before Bowser shouldpass. The louder that great voice sounded, the more absolutely certainFarmer Brown's boy became that it was the voice of Bowser, and a greatjoy filled his heart. At last he reached an old road. He felt certainthat Reddy would follow that road. So he hid behind an old stone wall onthe edge of it. 

He did not have long to wait. A red form appeared around a turn in theold road, running swiftly. Then it stopped and stood perfectly still. Ofcourse it was Reddy Fox. He was listening to make sure just how farbehind him Bowser was. He listened for only a moment and then started onas swiftly as before. Right down the road past Farmer Brown's boy Reddyran, and never once suspected he was being watched. 

A few minutes later another form appeared around the turn in the road. It was Bowser! Yes, Sir, it was Bowser! With a glad cry Farmer Brown'sboy jumped over the stone wall and waited. 

CHAPTER XXXVIII

REDDY GOES BACK FOR HIS FAT HEN

 Joy will make a puppy of an old dog. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

When Bowser the Hound is following the trail of Reddy Fox, it takes agreat deal to make him leave that trail. His love of the hunt is sogreat that, as a rule, nothing short of losing the trail will make himstop. He will follow it until he cannot follow it any longer. 

But for once Bowser actually forgot that he was following Reddy Fox. Yes, Sir, he did. As he came down that old road with his nose inReddy's tracks, he was so intent on what he was doing that he didn't seeFarmer Brown's boy waiting for him. He didn't see him until he almostran into him. 

For just a second Bowser stared in utter surprise. Then with a littleyelp of pure joy he leaped up and did his best to lick his master'sface. Could you have seen Bowser, you might have thought that he wasjust a foolish young puppy, he cut up such wild antics to express hisjoy. He yelped and whined and barked. He nearly knocked Farmer Brown'sboy down by leaping up on him. He raced around in circles. When at lasthe was still long enough, Farmer Brown's boy just threw his arms aroundhim and hugged him. He hugged him so hard he made Bowser squeal. Thentwo of the happiest folks in all the Great World started back across thesnow-covered fields to the sleigh. 

Bowser and Farmer Brown's boy were not the only ones who rejoiced. ReddyFox had been badly worried. Although he had tried every trick he couldthink of, he had not been able to get rid of Bowser, and he had justabout made up his mind that there was nothing for it but to start backto the Old Pasture which was so far away. That would mean giving up thefat hen which he had hidden in the hollow stump. 

Of course, Reddy knew the instant that Bowser began to yelp and barkthat something had happened. What it was he couldn't imagine. He satdown to wait and listen. Then he heard the voice of Farmer Brown's boy. Reddy knew that voice and he grinned, for he felt sure that Bowser wouldgive up the hunt. He grinned because now he would have a chance to goback for that fat hen. At the same time that grin was not wholly a happygrin, because Reddy knew that now Bowser would return to his home. 

Presently Reddy very carefully crept back to a place where he could seewhat was going on. He watched Farmer Brown's boy start back for theroad and the sleigh, with Bowser jumping up on him and racing around himlike a foolish young puppy. He waited only long enough to make sure thatBowser would not come back; then he turned and trotted swiftly along hisown back trail towards that hollow stump into which he had tossed thatfat hen. Reddy's thoughts were very pleasant thoughts, for they were allof the fine dinner of which he now felt sure. 

CHAPTER XXXIX

A VANISHED DINNER

 This fact you'll find where'er you go Is true of Fox or Dog or Man: Dishonesty has never paid, And, what is more, it never can. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Very pleasant were the thoughts of Reddy Fox as he trotted back to theswamp where was the hollow stump in which he had hidden the fat hen hehad stolen. Yes, Sir, very pleasant were the thoughts of Reddy Fox. Hefelt sure that no dinner he had ever eaten had tasted anywhere near asgood as would the dinner he was about to enjoy. 

In the first place his stomach had not been really filled for a longtime. Food had been scarce, and while Reddy had always obtained enoughto keep from starving, it was a long time since he had had a really goodmeal. He had, you remember, traveled a very long distance to catch thatfat hen, and it had been many hours since he had had a bite of anything. There is nothing like a good appetite to make things taste good. Reddycertainly had the appetite to make that fat hen the finest dinner a Foxever ate. 

So, with pleasant thoughts of the feast to come, Reddy trotted alongswiftly. Presently he reached the little swamp in which was the hollowstump. As he drew near it, he moved very carefully. You see, he was notquite sure that all was safe. He knew that the farmer from whom he hadstolen that fat hen had seen him run away with it, and he feared thatthat farmer might be hiding somewhere about with a terrible gun. SoReddy used his eyes and his ears and his nose as only he can use them. All seemed safe. It was as still in that little swamp as if no livingcreature had ever visited it. Stopping every few steps to look, listen, and sniff, Reddy approached that hollow stump. 

Quite certain in his own mind that there was no danger, Reddy lightlyleaped up on the old stump and peeped into the hollow in the top. Thenhe blinked his eyes very fast indeed. If ever there has been a surprisedFox in all the Great World that one was Reddy. There was no fat hen inthat hollow! Reddy couldn't believe it. He _wouldn't_ believe it. Thatfat hen just _had_ to be there. He blinked his eyes some more and lookedagain. All he saw in that hollow stump was a feather. The fat hen hadvanished. All Reddy's dreams of a good dinner vanished too. A great ragetook their place. Somebody had _stolen_ his fat hen!

Reddy looked about him hurriedly and anxiously. There wasn't a sign ofanybody about, or that anybody had been there. Reddy's anger began togive place to wonder and then to something very like fear. How couldanybody have taken that fat hen and left no trace? And how could a fathen with a broken neck disappear of its own accord? It gave Reddy acreepy feeling. 

CHAPTER XL

WHERE WAS REDDY'S DINNER?

 Often it is better to look for a new trail than to waste time hunting for an old one. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Reddy Fox is used to all sorts of queer happenings. Yes, Sir, he is usedto all sorts of queer happenings, and as a rule Reddy is seldom puzzledfor long. You see he is such a clever fellow himself that any one cleverenough to fool him for long must be very clever indeed. This time, however, all the cleverness of his sharp wits did him no good. The fathen he had hidden in a hollow stump had disappeared without leavingtrace. 

Reddy's first thought was that probably the farmer from whom he hadstolen the fat hen had found it and taken it away. At once he began touse that wonderful nose of his searching for the scent of that farmer. Very carefully he sniffed all about the top of that old stump and insidethe hollow. There wasn't the faintest scent of anybody there. Then hejumped down, and with his nose to the ground, ran all around the stump, sniffing, sniffing, sniffing. The only thing he discovered was the scentof Bowser the Hound, and he knew that Bowser had not taken that fat hen, because, as you remember, Bowser had kept right on chasing him. 

Reddy began to feel afraid of that old stump. People usually are afraidof mysterious things, and it certainly was very mysterious that a fathen with a broken neck should disappear without leaving any trace atall. Reddy sat down at a little distance and did a lot of hard thinking. He looked every which way even up in the tree tops, but all his lookingwas in vain. It was so mysterious that if he hadn't known positivelythat he was awake he would have thought it was all a dream. 

But Reddy is something of a philosopher. That fat hen was gone, andthere was no use in wasting time puzzling over it. There were other fathens where that one came from, and he would just have to catch another. 

So Reddy trotted through the swamp till he came to the edge of it. Therehis keen nose found the scent of the farmer. It didn't take him twominutes to discover that the farmer had followed Bowser the Hound to theedge of the swamp and then gone back. Eagerly Reddy looked over to thefarmyard for those fat hens. They, too, had disappeared. Not one was tobe seen. But there was no mystery about the disappearance of these otherfat hens. He heard the muffled crow of the big rooster. It came from thehenhouse. All those fat hens had been shut up. It was perfectly plainto Reddy that the farmer suspected Reddy might return, and he didn'tintend to lose another fat hen. With a little yelp of disappointment, Reddy turned his back on the farm and trotted off into the woods. 

CHAPTER XLI

WHAT BLACKY THE CROW SAW

 The greatest puzzle is simple enough when you know the answer. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

There were just two people to whom the disappearance of that fat henReddy Fox had hidden in the hollow stump was not a mystery. One of themwas Blacky the Crow. When the farmer and Bowser the Hound had rushed outat the sound of Blacky's excited cawing, Blacky had flown to the top ofa tall tree from which he could see all that went on. Everything hadhappened just as Blacky had hoped it would. Bowser had taken the trailof Reddy Fox, and Blacky felt sure that sooner or later Reddy would leadhim back home to Farmer Brown's. 

Blacky was doubly pleased with himself. He was pleased to think that hehad found a way of getting Bowser back home, and he was quite as muchpleased because he had been smart enough to outwit Reddy Fox. He didn'twish Reddy any harm, and he felt sure that no harm would come to him. Hedidn't even wish him to lose that dinner Reddy had come so far to get, but he didn't care if Reddy did lose it, if only his plan worked out ashe hoped it would. 

"I wonder what he'll do with that fat hen, " muttered Blacky, as hewatched Reddy race away with it thrown over his shoulders. "He can'tcarry that hen far and keep out of the way of Bowser. I think I'llfollow and see what he does with it. "

So Blacky followed, and his eyes twinkled when he saw Reddy hide the fathen in the hollow stump. He knew that no matter how far Bowser mightchase Reddy, Reddy would come back for that fat hen, and he was ratherglad to think that Reddy would have that good dinner after all. 

"No one will ever think to look in that hollow stump, " thought Blacky, "and I certainly will not tell any one. Reddy has earned that dinner. Now I think I'll go get something to eat myself. "

At that very instant Blacky's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of a gray formwith broad wings, and in a perfect panic of fear Blacky began to fly asfast as he knew how for a thick spruce-tree not far away. He plunged inamong the branches and hid in the thickest part he could find. Withlittle shivers of fear running all over him, he peeked out and watchedthat big gray form. On broad wings it sailed over to that hollow stump. Two long legs with great curving claws reached down in, and a momentlater that fat hen was disappearing over the tree tops. Blacky sighedwith relief. 

[Illustration: ON BROAD WINGS IT SAILED OVER TO THAT HOLLOW STUMP. _Page199. _]

"It's a lucky thing for me that robber, Mr. Goshawk, saw Reddy hide thatfat hen, " muttered Blacky. "If he hadn't, he might have caught me, for Ididn't see him at all. "

CHAPTER XLII

ALL IS WELL THAT ENDS WELL

 When things go wrong, just patient be Until the end you plainly see. For often things that seem all bad Will end by making all hands glad. 

 _Bowser the Hound. _

Reddy Fox, trotting homeward, had nothing but bitterness in his heart, and nothing at all in his stomach. He was tired and hungry and bitterlydisappointed. He was in a country with which he was not familiar, and sohe did not know where to hunt, and he felt that he just must getsomething to eat. Do what he would, he couldn't help thinking aboutthat fat hen he had hidden and which had so mysteriously disappeared. The more he thought of it, the worse he felt. It was bad enough to behungry and have no idea where the next meal was coming from, but it wasmany times worse to have had that meal and then lose it. To Reddy, everything was all wrong. 

Now on his way home Ready had to pass several farms. Hunger made himbold, and at each farm he stole softly as near as possible to thefarmyard, hoping that he might find more fat hens unguarded. Now ithappened that that afternoon a farmer at one of these farms waspreparing some chickens to be taken to market early the next morning. Hewas picking these chickens in a shed attached to the barn. He hadseveral all picked when he was called to the house on an errand. 

It happened that just after he had disappeared Reddy Fox came stealingaround from behind the barn, and at once he smelled those chickens. Justimagine how Reddy felt when he peeped in that shed and saw those finechickens just waiting for him. Two minutes later Reddy was racing backto the woods with one of them. This time there was no dog behind him. And in a little hollow Reddy ate the finest dinner he ever had had. Yousee there were no feathers to bother him on that chicken, for it hadbeen picked. When the last bit had disappeared, Reddy once more startedfor home, and this time he was happy, for his stomach was full. 

Long before Reddy got back to the Old Pasture Farmer Brown's boy andBowser the Hound had reached home. Such a fuss as everybody did makeover Bowser. It seemed as if each one at Farmer Brown's was trying tospoil Bowser. As for Bowser himself, he was the happiest dog in all theGreat World. 

Blacky the Crow got back to the Green Forest near Farmer Brown's justbefore jolly, round Mr. Sun went to bed. Blacky had found plenty to eatand he had seen no more of fierce Mr. Goshawk. As Blacky settled himselfon his roost he heard from the direction of Farmer Brown's house a greatvoice. It was the voice of Bowser the Hound trying to express his joy inbeing home. Blacky chuckled contentedly. He, too, was happy, for italways makes one happy to have one's plans succeed. 

"All's well that end's well, " he chuckled, and closed his eyes sleepily. 

Blacky never could have fooled old Granny Fox as he did Reddy. She isfar too smart to be fooled even by so clever a scamp as Blacky. She isso smart that she deserves a book all her own, and so the next volume inthis series will be Old Granny Fox. 

THE END