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 shar
ply 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.
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