the adventures of reddy fox(兰迪福克斯奇遇)-第8部分
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wouldn't be able to follow her track at all。 But she wasn't ready to do that
yet。 No； indeed！ Old Granny Fox was taking great care to see that her
tracks were easy to follow。 She wanted Bowser the Hound to follow them；
although it made her tired and hot and cross。 Why did she？ Well； you see；
she was trying to lead him； and with him Farmer Brown's boy； far； far
away from the home where Reddy Fox was nursing the wounds that he
had received when Farmer Brown's boy had shot at him a few days before。
〃Bow； wow； wow！〃 roared Bowser the Hound； following every twist
and turn which Granny Fox made； just as she wanted him to。 Back and
forth across the old pasture and way up among the rocks on the edge of the
mountain Granny Fox led Bowser the Hound。 It was a long； long； long
way from the Green Meadows and the Green Forest。 Granny Fox had
made it a long way purposely。 She was willing to be tired herself if she
could also tire Bowser the Hound and Farmer Brown's boy。 She wanted to
tire them so that when she finally puzzled and fooled them and left them
there； they would be too tired to go back to the Green Meadows。
By and by Granny Fox came to a hole in the ground； an old house that
had once belonged to her grandfather。 Now this old house had a back door
hidden close beside the hollow trunk of a fallen tree。 Old Granny Fox just
ran through the house； out the back door； through the hollow tree； and then
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jumped into a little brook where there was hardly more than enough water
to wet her feet。 Walking in the water； she left no scent in her tracks。
Bowser the Hound came roaring up to the front door of the old house。
Granny's tracks led right inside； and Bowser grew so excited that he made
a tremendous noise。 At last he had found where Granny Fox lived； at least
he thought he had。 He was sure that she was inside； for there were her
fresh tracks going inside and none coming out。 Bowser the Hound never
once thought of looking for a back door。 If he had； he wouldn't have been
any the wiser； because； you know； old Granny Fox had slipped away
through the hollow tree trunk。
Granny Fox grinned as she listened to the terrible fuss Bowser was
making。 Then； when she had rested a little； she stole up on the hill where
she could look down and see the entrance to the old deserted house。 She
watched Bowser digging and barking。After a while a worried look crept
into the face of old Granny Fox。
〃Where's Farmer Brown's boy？ I thought surely he would follow
Bowser the Hound；〃 she muttered。
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XXI。 Reddy Fox Disobeys
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
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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 andlooked straight into the freckled
face of Farmer Brown's boy and the muzzle of that dreadful gun！
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XXII。 Ol' Mistah Buzzard's Keen
Sight
Old Granny Fox had thought that when she fooled Bowser the Hound
up in the old pasture on the edge of the mountain she could take her time
going home。 She was tired and hot； and she had planned to pick out the
shadiest paths going back。 She had thought that Farmer Brown's boy
would soon join Bowser the Hound； when Bowser made such a fuss about
having found the old house into which Granny Fox had run。
But Farmer Brown's boy had not yet appeared； and Granny Fox was
getting worried。 Could it be that he had not followed Bowser the Hound；
after all？ Granny Fox went out on a high point and looked； but she could
see nothing of Farmer Brown's boy and his gun。 Just then Ol' Mistah
Buzzard came sailing down out of the blue； blue sky and settled himself
on a tall； dead tree。 Now Granny Fox hadn't forgotten how Ol' Mistah
Buzzard had warned Peter Rabbit just as she was about to pounce on him；
but she suddenly thought that Ol' Mistah Buzzard might be of use to her。
So old Granny Fox smoothed out her skirts and walked over to the foot
of the tree where Ol' Mistah Buzzard sat。
〃How do you do today； neighbor Buzzard？〃 inquired Granny Fox；
smiling up at Ol' Mistah Buzzard。
〃Ah'm so as to be up and about； thank yo'；〃 replied Ol' Mistah Buzzard；
spreading his wings out so that air could blow under them。
〃My！〃 exclaimed old Granny Fox； 〃what splendid great wings you
have； Mistah Buzzard！ It must be grand to be able to fly。 I suppose you
can see a great deal from way up there in the blue； blue sky； Mistah
Buzzard。〃
Ol' Mistah Buzzard felt flattered。 〃Yes；〃 said he； 〃Ah can see all that's
going on on the Green Meadows and in the Green Forest。〃
〃Oh； Mistah Buzzard； you don't really mean that！〃 exclaimed old
Granny Fox； just as if she wanted to believe it； but couldn't。
〃Yes； Ah can！〃 replied Ol' Mistah Buzzard。
〃Really； Mistah Buzzard？ Really？ Oh； I can't believe that your eyes are
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so sharp as all that！ Now I know where Bowser the Hound is and where
Farmer Brown's boy is； but I don't believe you can see them；〃 said Granny
Fox。
Ol' Mistah Buzzard never said a word but spread his broad wings and
in a few minutes he had sailed up； up； up until he looked like just a tiny
speck to old Granny Fox。 Now old Granny Fox had not told the truth when
she said she knew where Farmer Brown's boy was。 She thought she would
trick Ol' Mistah Buzzard into telling her。
In a few minutes down came Ol' Mistah Buzzard。 〃Bowser the Hound
is up in the old back pasture；〃 said he。
〃Right！〃 cried old Granny Fox； clapping her hands
