When old Granny Fox had sent Reddy Fox into the house and told him to
stay there until she returned home, he had not wanted to mind, but he
knew that Granny Fox meant just what she said, and so he had crawled
slowly down the long hall to the bedroom, way underground.
Pretty soon Reddy Fox heard a voice. It was very faint, for you know
Reddy was in his bedroom way underground, but he knew it. He pricked up
his ears and listened. It was the voice of Bowser the Hound, and Reddy
knew by the sound that Bowser was chasing Granny Fox.
Reddy grinned. He wasn't at all worried about Granny Fox, not the least
little 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 into
Reddy'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 mind
and 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 he
was so stiff and sore that he could not get comfortable. He twisted and
turned and fidgeted. The more he fidgeted, the more uncomfortable he
grew. He thought of the warm sunshine outside and how comfortable he
would be, stretched out full length on the doorstep. It would take the
soreness out of his legs. Something must have happened to Granny to keep
her so long. If she had known that she was going to be gone such a long
time, she wouldn't have told him to stay until she came back, thought
Reddy.
By and by Reddy Fox crept a little way up the long, dark hall. He could
just see the sunlight on the doorstep. Pretty soon he went a little bit
nearer. 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't
said that he couldn't look out! Reddy crawled a little nearer to the
open door and the sunlight.
“Granny Fox is getting old and timid. Just as if my eyes aren't as sharp
as hers! I'd like to see Farmer Brown's boy get near me when I am really
on the watch,” said Reddy Fox to himself. And then he crept a little
nearer to the open door.
How bright and warm and pleasant it did look outside! Reddy just knew
that he would feel ever and ever so much better if he could stretch
out on the doorstep. He could hear Jenny Wren fussing and scolding at
someone or something, and he wondered what it could be. He crept just a
wee bit nearer. He could hear Bowser's voice, but it was so faint that
he had to prick up his sharp little ears and listen with all his might
to hear it at all.
“Granny's led them way off on the mountain. Good old Granny!” thought
Reddy Fox. Then he crawled right up to the very doorway. He could still
hear 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 face
of Farmer Brown's boy and the muzzle of that dreadful gun!