"Just passing the word along so everybody in the Green Meadows andin the Green Forest will keep out of the way of Farmer Brown's boy,"replied Unc' Billy Possum.
"Good idea, Unc' Billy! I'll help you," said Jimmy Skunk.
So Unc' Billy Possum went one way, and Jimmy Skunk went another way.And everyone they told hurried to tell someone else. Happy Jack Squirreltold Chatterer the Red Squirrel; Chatterer told Striped Chipmunk, andStriped Chipmunk told Danny Meadow Mouse. Danny Meadow Mouse told JohnnyChuck; Johnny Chuck told Peter Rabbit; Peter Rabbit told Jumper theHare; Jumper the Hare told Prickly Porky; Prickly Porky told Bobby Coon;Bobby Coon told Billy Mink; Billy Mink told Little Joe Otter; Little JoeOtter told Jerry Muskrat, and Jerry Muskrat told Grandfather Frog. Andeverybody hastened to hide from Farmer Brown's boy and his terrible gun.
By and by Farmer Brown's boy noticed how still it was in the GreenForest. Nowhere did he see or hear a bird. Nowhere could he catch aglimpse of anybody who wore fur.
"That fox must have scared away all the other animals and driven awayall the birds. I'll get him! See if I don't!" muttered Farmer Brown'sboy, and never once guessed that they were hiding from him.
XX. Old Granny Fox Makes a Mistake
Old Granny Fox was running through the overgrown old pasture, way upback of Farmer Brown's. She was cross and tired and hot, for it was avery warm day. Behind her came Bowser the Hound, his nose in Granny'stracks, and making a great noise with his big voice. Granny Fox wascross because she was tired. She hadn't done much running lately. Shedidn't mind running when the weather was cold, but now--"Oh dear, it ishot!" sighed old Granny Fox, as she stopped a minute to rest.
Now old Granny Fox is very, very smart and very, very wise. She knowsall the tricks with which foxes fool those who try to catch them. Sheknew that she could fool Bowser the Hound and puzzle him so that hewouldn't be able to follow her track at all. But she wasn't ready to dothat yet. No, indeed! Old Granny Fox was taking great care to see thather tracks were easy to follow. She wanted Bowser the Hound to followthem, although it made her tired and hot and cross. Why did she? Well,you see, she was trying to lead him, and with him Farmer Brown's boy,far, far away from the home where Reddy Fox was nursing the woundsthat he had received when Farmer Brown's boy had shot at him a few daysbefore.
"Bow, wow, wow!" roared Bowser the Hound, following every twist and turnwhich Granny Fox made, just as she wanted him to. Back and forth acrossthe old pasture and way up among the rocks on the edge of the mountainGranny Fox led Bowser the Hound. It was a long, long, long way from theGreen Meadows and the Green Forest. Granny Fox had made it a long waypurposely. She was willing to be tired herself if she could also tireBowser the Hound and Farmer Brown's boy. She wanted to tire them so thatwhen she finally puzzled and fooled them and left them there, they wouldbe too tired to go back to the Green Meadows.
By and by Granny Fox came to a hole in the ground, an old house thathad once belonged to her grandfather. Now this old house had a back doorhidden close beside the hollow trunk of a fallen tree. Old Granny Foxjust ran through the house, out the back door, through the hollow tree,and then jumped into a little brook where there was hardly more thanenough water to wet her feet. Walking in the water, she left no scent inher tracks.
Bowser the Hound came roaring up to the front door of the old house.Granny's tracks led right inside, and Bowser grew so excited that hemade a tremendous noise. At last he had found where Granny Fox lived; atleast he thought he had. He was sure that she was inside, for therewere her fresh tracks going inside and none coming out. Bowser the Houndnever once thought of looking for a back door. If he had, he wouldn'thave been any the wiser, because, you know, old Granny Fox had slippedaway through the hollow tree trunk.
Granny Fox grinned as she listened to the terrible fuss Bowser wasmaking. Then, when she had rested a little, she stole up on the hillwhere she could look down and see the entrance to the old desertedhouse. She watched Bowser digging and barking. After a while a worriedlook crept into the face of old Granny Fox.
"Where's Farmer Brown's boy? I thought surely he would follow Bowser theHound," she muttered.
XXI. Reddy Fox Disobeys
When old Granny Fox had sent Reddy Fox into the house and told him tostay there until she returned home, he had not wanted to mind, but heknew that Granny Fox meant just what she said, and so he had crawledslowly down the long hall to the bedroom, way underground.
Pretty soon Reddy Fox heard a voice. It was very faint, for you knowReddy was in his bedroom way underground, but he knew it. He pricked uphis ears and listened. It was the voice of Bowser the Hound, and Reddyknew by the sound that Bowser was chasing Granny Fox.
Reddy grinned. He wasn't at all worried about Granny Fox, not the leastlittle bit. He knew how smart she was and that whenever she wanted to,she could get rid of Bowser the Hound. Then a sudden thought popped intoReddy's head, and he grew sober.
"Granny did feel trouble coming, just as she said," he thought.
Then Reddy Fox curled himself up and tried to sleep. He intended to mindand not put his little black nose outside until old Granny Fox returned.But somehow Reddy couldn't get to sleep. His bedroom was small, and hewas so stiff and sore that he could not get comfortable. He twisted andturned and fidgeted. The more he fidgeted, the more uncomfortable hegrew. He thought of the warm sunshine outside and how comfortable hewould be, stretched out full length on the doorstep. It would take thesoreness out of his legs. Something must have happened to Granny to keepher so long. If she had known that she was going to be gone such a longtime, she wouldn't have told him to stay until she came back, thoughtReddy.
By and by Reddy Fox crept a little way up the long, dark hall. He couldjust see the sunlight on the doorstep. Pretty soon he went a little bitnearer. He wasn't going to disobey old Granny Fox. Oh, no! No, indeed!She had told him to stay in the house until she returned. She hadn'tsaid that he couldn't look out! Reddy crawled a little nearer to theopen door and the sunlight.
"Granny Fox is getting old and timid. Just as if my eyes aren't as sharpas hers! I'd like to see Farmer Brown's boy get near me when I am reallyon the watch," said Reddy Fox to himself. And then he crept a littlenearer to the open door.
How bright and warm and pleasant it did look outside! Reddy just knewthat he would feel ever and ever so much better if he could stretchout on the doorstep. He could hear Jenny Wren fussing and scolding atsomeone or something, and he wondered what it could be. He crept just awee bit nearer. He could hear Bowser's voice, but it was so faint thathe had to prick up his sharp little ears and listen with all his mightto hear it at all.
"Granny's led them way off on the mountain. Good old Granny!" thoughtReddy Fox. Then he crawled right up to the very doorway. He could stillhear Jenny Wren scolding and fussing.
"What does ail her?
"If it's hot or if it's cold, Jenny Wren will always scold. From morn till night the whole day long Her limber tongue is going strong.
"I'm going to find out what it means," said Reddy, talking to himself.
Reddy Fox poked his head out and--looked straight into the freckled faceof Farmer Brown's boy and the muzzle of that dreadful gun!
XXII. Ol' Mistah Buzzard's Keen Sight
Old Granny Fox had thought that when she fooled Bowser the Hound upin the old pasture on the edge of the mountain she could take her timegoing home. She was tired and hot, and she had planned to pick out theshadiest paths going back. She had thought that Farmer Brown's boy wouldsoon join Bowser the Hound, when Bowser made such a fuss about havingfound the old house into which Granny Fox had run.
But Farmer Brown's boy had not yet appeared, and Granny Fox was gettingworried. Could it be that he had not followed Bowser the Hound, afterall? Granny Fox went out on a high point and looked, but she could seenothing of Farmer Brown's boy and his gun. Just then Ol' Mistah Buzzardcame sailing down out of the blue, blue sky and settled himself on atall, dead tree. Now Granny Fox hadn't forgotten how Ol' Mistah Bu
zzardhad warned Peter Rabbit just as she was about to pounce on him, but shesuddenly thought that Ol' Mistah Buzzard might be of use to her.
So old Granny Fox smoothed out her skirts and walked over to the foot ofthe tree where Ol' Mistah Buzzard sat.
"How do you do today, neighbor Buzzard?" inquired Granny Fox, smiling upat Ol' Mistah Buzzard.
"Ah'm so as to be up and about, thank yo'," replied Ol' Mistah Buzzard,spreading his wings out so that air could blow under them.
"My!" exclaimed old Granny Fox, "what splendid great wings you have,Mistah Buzzard! It must be grand to be able to fly. I suppose youcan see a great deal from way up there in the blue, blue sky, MistahBuzzard."
Ol' Mistah Buzzard felt flattered. "Yes," said he, "Ah can see allthat's going on on the Green Meadows and in the Green Forest."
"Oh, Mistah Buzzard, you don't really mean that!" exclaimed old GrannyFox, just as if she wanted to believe it, but couldn't.
"Yes, Ah can!" replied Ol' Mistah Buzzard.
"Really, Mistah Buzzard? Really? Oh, I can't believe that your eyes areso sharp as all that! Now I know where Bowser the Hound is and whereFarmer Brown's boy is, but I don't believe you can see them," saidGranny Fox.
Ol' Mistah Buzzard never said a word but spread his broad wings and ina few minutes he had sailed up, up, up until he looked like just a tinyspeck to old Granny Fox. Now old Granny Fox had not told the truth whenshe said she knew where Farmer Brown's boy was. She thought she wouldtrick Ol' Mistah Buzzard into telling her.
In a few minutes down came Ol' Mistah Buzzard. "Bowser the Hound is upin the old back pasture," said he.
"Right!" cried old Granny Fox, clapping her hands. "And where is FarmerBrown's boy?"
"Farmer Brown's boy is..." Ol' Mistah Buzzard paused.
"Where? Where?" asked Granny Fox, so eagerly that Ol' Mistah Buzzardlooked at her sharply.
"Yo' said you knew, so what's the use of telling yo'?" said Ol' MistahBuzzard. Then he added: "But if Ah was yo', Ah cert'nly would get homeright smart soon."
"Why? Do, do tell me what you saw, Mistah Buzzard!" begged Granny Fox.
But Ol' Mistah Buzzard wouldn't say another word, so old Granny Foxstarted for home as fast as she could run.
"Oh dear, I do hope Reddy Fox minded me and stayed in the house," shemuttered.
XXII Granny Fox Has a Terrible Scare
Old Granny Fox felt her heart sink way down to her toes, for she feltsure Ol' Mistah Buzzard had seen Farmer Brown's boy and his gun overnear the house where Reddy Fox was nursing his wounds, or he wouldn'thave advised her to hurry home. She was already very tired and hot fromthe long run to lead Bowser the Hound away from the Green Meadows. Shehad thought to walk home along shady paths and cool off, but now shemust run faster than ever, for she must know if Farmer Brown's boy hadfound her house.
"It's lucky I told Reddy Fox to go inside and not come out till Ireturned; it's very lucky I did that," thought Granny Fox as she ran.Presently she heard voices singing. They seemed to be in the treetopsover her head.
"Happily we dance and play All the livelong sunny day! Happily we run and race And win or lose with smiling face!"
Granny Fox knew the voices, and she looked up. Just as she expected, shesaw the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind playing among theleaves. Just then one of them looked down and saw her.
"There's old Granny Fox! Just see how hot and tired she looks. Let's godown and cool her off!" shouted the Merry Little Breeze.
In a flash they were all down out of the treetops and dancing aroundold Granny Fox, cooling her off. Of course, Granny Fox kept right onrunning. She was too worried not to. But the Merry Little Breezes keptright beside her, and it was not nearly as hard running now as it hadbeen.
"Have you seen Farmer Brown's boy?" panted Granny Fox.
"Oh, yes! We saw him just a little while ago over near your house,Granny Fox. We pulled his hat off, just to hear him scold," shouted theMerry Little Breezes, and then they tickled and laughed as if they hadhad a good time with Farmer Brown's boy.
But old Granny Fox didn't laugh--oh, my, no, indeed! Her heart wentlower still, and she did her best to run faster. Pretty soon she cameout on the top of the hill where she could look, and then it seemed asif her heart came right up in her mouth and stopped beating. Her eyespopped almost out of her head. There was Farmer Brown's boy standingright in front of the door of her home. And while she was watching, whatshould Reddy Fox do but stick his head out the door.
Old Granny Fox saw the gun of Farmer Brown's boy pointed right at Reddyand she clapped both hands over her eyes to shut out the dreadful sight.Then she waited for the bang of the gun. It didn't come. Then Grannypeeped through her fingers. Farmer Brown's boy was still there, butReddy Fox had disappeared inside the house.
Granny Fox sighed in relief. It had been a terrible scare, the worst shecould remember.
XXIV. Granny and Reddy Have To Move
"I don't want to move," whined Reddy Fox. "I'm too sore to walk."
Old Granny Fox gave him a shove. "You go along and do as I say!" shesnapped. "If you had minded me, we wouldn't have to move. It's all yourown fault. The wonder is that you weren't killed when you poked yourhead out right in front of Farmer Brown's boy. Now that he knows wherewe live, he will give us no peace. Move along lively now! This is thebest home I have ever had, and now I've got to leave it. Oh dear! Ohdear!"
Reddy Fox hobbled along up the long hall and out the front door. He waswalking on three legs, and at every step he made a face because, youknow, it hurt so to walk.
The little stars, looking down from the sky, saw Reddy Fox limp out thedoor of the house he had lived in so long, and right behind him came oldGranny Fox. Granny sighed and wiped away a tear, as she said good-byto her old home. Reddy Fox was thinking too much of his own troubles tonotice how badly Granny Fox was feeling. Every few steps he had to sitdown and rest because it hurt him so to walk.
"I don't see the use of moving tonight, anyway. It would be a lot easierand pleasanter when the sun is shining. This night air makes me so stiffthat I know I never will get over it," grumbled Reddy Fox.
Old Granny Fox listened to him for a while, and then she lost patience.Yes, Sir, Granny Fox lost patience. She boxed Reddy Fox first on one earand then on the other. Reddy began to snivel.
"Stop that!" said Granny Fox sharply. "Do you want all the neighbors toknow that we have got to move? They'll find it out soon enough. Now comealong without any more fuss. If you don't, I'll just go off and leaveyou to shift for yourself. Then how will you get anything to eat?"
Reddy Fox wiped his eyes on his coat sleeve and hobbled along as best hecould. Granny Fox would run a little way ahead to see that the way wassafe and then come back for Reddy. Poor Reddy. He did his best notto complain, but it was such hard work. And somehow Reddy Fox didn'tbelieve that it was at all necessary. He had been terribly frightenedwhen he had disobeyed Granny Fox that afternoon and put his head out thedoor, only to look right into the freckled face of Farmer Brown's boy.He had ducked back out of sight again too quickly for Farmer Brown's boyto shoot, and now he couldn't see why old Granny Fox wanted to move thatvery night.
"She's getting old. She's getting old and timid and fussy," mutteredReddy Fox, as he hobbled along behind her.
It seemed to Reddy as if they had walked miles and miles. He reallythought that they had been walking nearly all night when old Granny Foxstopped in front of the worst-looking old fox house Reddy had ever seen.
"Here we are!" said she.
"What! Are we going to live in that thing?" cried Reddy. "It isn't fitfor any respectable fox to put his nose into."
"It is where I was born!" snapped old Granny Fox. "If you want to keepout of harm's way, don't go to putting on airs now.
"Who scorns the simple things of life And tilts his nose at all he sees, Is almost sure to feel the knife Of want cut through his pleasant ease.
"Now don't let me hear anoth
er word from you, but get inside at once!"
Reddy Fox didn't quite understand all Granny Fox said, but he knew whenshe was to be obeyed, and so he crawled gingerly through the broken-downdoorway.
XXV. Peter Rabbit Makes a Discovery
Hardly had jolly, round, red Mr. Sun thrown off his nightcap and comeout from his home behind the Purple Hills for his daily climb up in theblue, blue sky, when Farmer Brown's boy started down the Lone LittlePath through the Green Forest.
Peter Rabbit, who had been out all night and was just then on his wayhome, saw him. Peter stopped and sat up to rub his eyes and look again.He wasn't quite sure that he had seen aright the first time. But hehad. There was Farmer Brown's boy, sure enough, and at his heels trottedBowser the Hound.
Peter Rabbit rubbed his eyes once more and wrinkled up his eyebrows.Farmer Brown's boy certainly had a gun over one shoulder and a spadeover the other. Where could he be going down the Lone Little Path with aspade? Farmer Brown's garden certainly was not in that direction. Peterwatched him out of sight and then he hurried down to the Green Meadowsto tell Johnny Chuck what he had seen. My, how Peter's long legs didfly! He was so excited that he had forgotten how sleepy he had felt afew minutes before.
Halfway down to Johnny Chuck's house, Peter Rabbit almost ran plump intoBobby Coon and Jimmy Skunk, who had been quarreling and were callingeach other names. They stopped when they saw Peter Rabbit.
"Peter Rabbit runs away From his shadder, so they say. Peter, Peter, what a sight! Tell us why this sudden fright,"