FOXES are very sly. If they want a tender chicken for dinner, they don't
walk into the poultry yard in broad daylight. Our Mr. Fox knows better
than that. He waits till all is still at night. Then he steals across
the yard, and peeps into the hen-house.
All is quiet, so he steps in. Now he stops a moment to listen. He wants
to be sure that the big dog asleep near the house isn't after him. He
hears nothing, so he looks around for the hens.
There they are, asleep on a high roost. Can he get them? His eyes shine.
His mouth waters. He must have one somehow.
He is careful not to make a bit of noise--the sly fellow.
Mr. Fox is sure he can get one now. He reaches up till his black nose
nearly touches the rooster's long tail-feathers.
He is all ready for a spring, when a rush and a loud barking is heard.
The dog has scented the fox. So, instead of getting a nice, fat chicken
for dinner, Mr. Fox has to run for his life. And the dog is close
behind. So close that Mr. Fox fears that he himself may make a dinner
for the dog. But he reaches his hole safely.
[Illustration: MR. FOX IS SURE.]