the adventures of reddy fox(兰迪福克斯奇遇)-第6部分
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〃Thief！ thief！ robber！ robber！〃 shrieked old Granny Fox。
But Mr。 Goshawk said nothing； just winked at Bobby Coon； puffed out
his feathers； and settled himself for a comfortable nap。
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
XV。 Reddy Fox Has a Visitor
Hardly was old Granny Fox out of sight on her way to hunt for the
chicken she had left on the hill； when Unc' Billy Possum came strolling
along the Lone Little Path。 He was humming to himself； for he had just
had a good breakfast。 One of the Merry Little Breezes spied him and
hurried to meet him and tell him about how Reddy Fox had been shot。
Unc' Billy listened； and the grin with which he had greeted the Merry
Little Breeze grew into a broad smile。
〃Are yo' all sure about that？〃 he asked。
The Merry Little Breeze was sure。
Unc' Billy Possum stopped for a few minutes and considered。
〃Serves that no 'count Reddy Fox right；〃 chuckled Unc' Billy。 〃He
done spoil mah hunting at Farmer Brown's； he raised such a fuss among
the hens up there。 'Tisn't safe to go there any mo'！ No； Suh； 'tisn't safe； and
it won't be safe for a right smart while。 Did yo' say that Granny Fox is
home？〃
The Merry Little Breeze hadn't said anything about Granny Fox； but
now remembered that she had gone up the hill。
〃Ah believe Ah will just tote my sympathy over to Reddy Fox；〃 said
Unc' Billy Possum； as he started in the direction of Reddy Fox's house。
But he made sure that old Granny Fox was not at home before he showed
himself。 Reddy Fox lay on his doorstep。 He was sick and sore and stiff。
Indeed； he was so stiff he couldn't walk at all。 And he was weakweak and
hungry； dreadfully hungry。 When he heard footsteps； he thought old
Granny Fox was bringing him the chicken after which she had gone。 He
felt too ill even to turn his head。
〃Did you get the chicken； Granny？〃 he asked weakly。 No one
answered。 〃I say； did you get the chicken； Granny？〃 Reddy's voice
sounded a little sharp and cross as he asked this time。
Still there was no reply； and Reddy began to be a little bit suspicious。
He turned over and raised his head to look。 Instead of old Granny Fox；
there was Unc' Billy Possum grinning at him。
〃Smarty； Smarty is a thief！ Smarty； Smarty came to grief！ Tried to
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show off just for fun And ran too near a loaded gun。
〃Yo' all certainly has got just what yo' deserve； and Ah'm glad of it！
Ah'm glad of it； Suh！〃 said Unc' Billy Possum severely。
An angry light came into the eyes of Reddy Fox and made them an
ugly yellow for just a minute。 But he felt too sick to quarrel。 Unc' Billy
Possum saw this。 He saw how Reddy was really suffering； and down deep
in his heart Unc' Billy was truly sorry for him。 But he didn't let Reddy
know it。 No； indeed！ He just pretended to be tickled to death to see Reddy
Fox so helpless。 He didn't dare stay long； for fear Granny Fox would
return。 So； after saying a few more things to make Reddy feel
uncomfortable； Unc' Billy started off up the Lone Little Path toward the
Green Forest。
〃Too bad！ Too bad！〃 he muttered to himself。 〃If ol' Granny Fox isn't
smart enough to get Reddy enough to eat； Ah'll have to see what we…alls
can do。 Ah cert'nly will。〃
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
XVI。 Unc' Billy Possum Visits the
Smiling Pool
Joe Otter and Billy Mink were sitting on the Big Rock in the Smiling
Pool。 Because they had nothing else to do； they were planning mischief。
Jerry Muskrat was busy filling his new house with food for the winter。 He
was too busy to get into mischief。
Suddenly Billy Mink put a finger on his lips as a warning to Little Joe
Otter to keep perfectly still。 Billy's sharp eyes had seen something moving
over in the bulrushes。 Together he and Little Joe Otter watched； ready to
dive into the Smiling Pool at the first sign of danger。 In a few minutes the
rushes parted and a sharp little old face peered out。 Little Joe Otter and
Billy Mink each sighed with relief； and their eyes began to dance。 〃Hi；
Unc' Billy Possum！〃 shouted Billy Mink。
A grin crept over the sharp little old face peering out from the
bulrushes。
〃Hi； yo'self！〃 he shouted； for it really was Unc' Billy Possum。
〃What are you doing over here？〃 called Little Joe Otter。
〃Just a…looking round；〃 replied Unc' Billy Possum； his eyes twinkling。
〃Have you heard about Reddy Fox？〃 shouted Billy Mink。
〃Ah done jes' come from his home；〃 replied Unc' Billy Possum。
〃How is he？〃 asked Little Joe Otter。
〃Po'ly； he sho'ly is po'ly；〃 replied Unc' Billy Possum； shaking his head
soberly。 Then Unc' Billy told Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter how Reddy
Fox was so stiff and sore and sick that he couldn't get anything to eat for
himself； and how old Granny Fox had lost a chicken which she had caught
for him。
〃Serves him right！〃 exclaimed Billy Mink； who has never forgotten
how Reddy Fox fooled him and caught the most fish once upon a time。
Unc' Billy nodded his head。 〃Yo' are right。 Yo' cert'nly are right。 Yes；
Suh； Ah reckons yo' are right。 Was yo' ever hungry； Billy Minkreal
hungry？〃 asked Unc' Billy Possum。
Billy Mink thought of the time when he went without his dinner
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because Mr。 Night Heron had gobbled it up； when Billy had left it in a
temper。 He nodded his head。
〃Ah was just a…wondering；〃 continued Une' Billy Possum； 〃how it
would seem to be right smart powerful hungry and not be able to hunt fo'
anything to eat。〃
For a few minutes no one said a word。 Then Billy Mink stood up and
stretched。 〃Good…by；〃 said Billy Mink。
〃Where are you going so suddenly？〃 demanded Little Joe Otter。
〃I'm going to catch a fish and take it up to Reddy Fox； if you must
know！〃 snapped Billy Mink。
〃Good！〃 cried Little Joe Otter。 〃You needn't think that you can have all
the fun to yourself either； Billy Mink。 I'm going with you。〃
There was a splash in the Smiling Pool； and Unc' Billy Possum was
left looking out on nothing but the Smiling Pool and the Big Rock。 He
smiled to himself as he turned away。 〃Ah reckon Ah'll sho' have to do my
share； too；〃 said he。
And so it happened that when old Granny Fox finally reached home
with nothing but a little wood mouse for Reddy； she found him taking a
nap； his stomach as full as it could be。 And just a little way off were two
fish tails and the feathers of a little duck。
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
XVII。 Farmer Brown's Boy Is
Determined
Farmer Brown's boy had made up his mind。 When he shut his teeth
with a click and drew his lips together into a thin； straight line； those who
knew him were sure that Farmer Brown's boy had made up his mind。 That
is just what he had done now。 He was cleaning his gun； and as he worked
he was thinking of his pet chicken and of all the other chickens that Reddy
Fox had taken。
〃I'm going to get that fox if it takes all summer！〃 exclaimed Farmer
Brown's boy。 〃I ought to have gotten him the other day when I had a shot
at him。 Next time well； we'll see； Mr。 Fox； what will happen next time。〃
Now someone heard Farmer Brown's boy； heard everything he said；
though Farmer Brown's boy didn't know it。 It was Unc' Billy Possum； who
was hiding in the very pile of wood on which Farmer Brown's boy was
sitting。 Unc' Billy pricked up his ears。
He didn't like the tone of voice in which Farmer Brown's boy spoke。
He thought of Reddy Fox still so stiff and sore and lame that he could
hardly walk； all from the shot which Farmer Brown's boy thought had
missed。
〃There isn't gwine to be any next time。 No； Suh； there isn't gwine to be
any next time。 Ah sho'ly doan love Reddy Fox； but Ah can't nohow let him
be shot again。 Ah cert'nly can't！〃 muttered Unc' Billy Possum to himself。
Of course； Farmer Brown's boy didn't hear him。 He didn't hear him and
he didn't see him when Unc' Billy Possum crept out of the back side of the
woodpile and scurried under the henhouse。 He was too intent on his plan
to catch Reddy Fox。
〃I'm just going to hunt over the Green Meadows and through the
Green Forest until I get that fox！〃 said Farmer Brown's boy； and as he said
it he looked very fierce； as if he really meant it。 〃I'm not going to have my
chickens stolen any more！ No； Sir…e…e！ That fox has got a home
somewhere on the Green Meadows or in the Green Forest； and I'm going
to find it。 Then watch out； Mr。 Fox！〃
