|REDDY FOX lay on the side hill. Bobby Coon found him there, and when
Bobby spoke to him, Reddy made no reply. Bobby went over and looked
at him. Reddy's eyes were closed. Bobby grinned to himself, then he
tip-toed a little nearer and shouted "boo" right in one of Reddy's
little black ears. Still Reddy did not move. Bobby Coon's face grew
sober. He poked Reddy with his foot, but still Reddy did not move. Then
he pulled Reddy's tail, and still Reddy did not move. "It must be that
Reddy Fox is dead," thought Bobby Coon, and he hurried away to tell the
news.
[Illustration: 0082]
There was great excitement on the Green Meadows and in the Green Forest
when the little people there heard that Reddy Fox was dead. Of course,
every one wanted to see Reddy, and soon there was a procession of
little meadow and forest people hurrying across the Green Meadows to
the hillside where Reddy Fox lay. Jimmy Skunk, Johnny Chuck, Billy Mink,
Little Joe Otter, Unc' Billy Possum, Danny Meadow Mouse, Spotty the
Turtle, Old Mr. Toad, Grandfather Frog, Jerry Muskrat, Sammy Jay,
Blacky the Crow, Happy Jack Squirrel, Striped Chipmunk, Jumper the Hare,
Prickly Porky, all were there. They formed a big circle around Reddy
Fox.
Then they began to talk about Reddy. Some told of the good things that
Reddy had done and what a fine gentleman he was. Others told of the mean
things that Reddy Fox had done and how glad they were that they would
no longer have to watch out for him. It was surprising the number of bad
things that were said. But then, they felt safe in saying them, for was
not Reddy lying right there before them, stone dead?
Now, Peter Rabbit had not heard the news until late in the day, and when
he did hear it, he started as fast as his long legs could take him
to have a last look at Reddy. Half way there he suddenly stopped and
scratched one of his long ears. Peter was thinking. It was mighty funny
that Reddy Fox should have died without any one having heard that he was
sick. Peter started on again, but this time he did not hurry. Presently
he cut a long twig, which he carried along with him. When he reached the
circle around Reddy Fox, he stole up behind Prickly Porky the Porcupine
and whispered in his ear.
Prickly Porky took the long twig which Peter handed to him, while Peter
went off at a little distance and climbed up on an old stump where he
could see. Prickly Porky reached over and tickled one of Reddy's black
ears. For a minute nothing happened. Then the black ear twitched.
Prickly Porky tickled the end of Reddy's little black nose; then he
tickled it again. What do you think happened? Why, Reddy Fox sneezed!
My, my, my! How that circle around Reddy Fox did disappear! All the
little people who were afraid of Reddy Fox scampered away as fast as
they could run, while all the other little people who were not afraid
of Reddy Fox began to laugh, and the one who laughed loudest of all was
Peter Rabbit, as he started back to the Old Briar-patch.
Of course, Reddy Fox knew then that it was of no use at all to pretend
that he was dead, so he sprang to his feet and started after Peter
Rabbit at the top of his speed, but when he reached the Old Briar-patch,
Peter was safely inside, and Reddy could hear him laughing as if he
would split his sides.
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!" shouted Peter Rabbit.