the adventures of reddy fox(兰迪福克斯奇遇)-第9部分
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is up in the old back pasture；〃 said he。
〃Right！〃 cried old Granny Fox； clapping her hands。 〃And where is
Farmer Brown's boy？〃
〃Farmer Brown's boy is。 。 。〃 Ol' Mistah Buzzard paused。
〃Where？ Where？〃 asked Granny Fox； so eagerly that Ol' Mistah
Buzzard looked at her sharply。
〃Yo' said you knew； so what's the use of telling yo'？〃 said Ol' Mistah
Buzzard。 Then he added： 〃But if Ah was yo'； Ah cert'nly would get home
right smart soon。〃
〃Why？ Do； do tell me what you saw； Mistah Buzzard！〃 begged Granny
Fox。
But Ol' Mistah Buzzard wouldn't say another word； so old Granny
Fox started for home as fast as she could run。
〃Oh dear； I do hope Reddy Fox minded me and stayed in the house；〃
she muttered。
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
XXII Granny Fox Has a Terrible
Scare
Old Granny Fox felt her heart sink way down to her toes； for she felt
sure Ol' Mistah Buzzard had seen Farmer Brown's boy and his gun over
near the house where Reddy Fox was nursing his wounds； or he wouldn't
have advised her to hurry home。 She was already very tired and hot from
the long run to lead Bowser the Hound away from the Green Meadows。
She had thought to walk home along shady paths and cool off； but now
she must run faster than ever； for she must know if Farmer Brown's boy
had found her house。
〃It's lucky I told Reddy Fox to go inside and not come out till I
returned； it's very lucky I did that；〃 thought Granny Fox as she ran。
Presently she heard voices singing。 They seemed to be in the treetops over
her head。
〃Happily we dance and play All the livelong sunny day！ Happily
we run and race And win or lose with smiling face！〃
Granny Fox knew the voices； and she looked up。 Just as she expected；
she saw the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind playing
among the leaves。 Just then one of them looked down and saw her。
〃There's old Granny Fox！ Just see how hot and tired she looks。 Let's
go down and cool her off！〃 shouted the Merry Little Breeze。
In a flash they were all down out of the treetops and dancing around
old Granny Fox； cooling her off。 Of course； Granny Fox kept right on
running。 She was too worried not to。 But the Merry Little Breezes kept
right beside her； and it was not nearly as hard running now as it had been。
〃Have you seen Farmer Brown's boy？〃 panted Granny Fox。
〃Oh； yes！ We saw him just a little while ago over near your house；
Granny Fox。 We pulled his hat off； just to hear him scold；〃 shouted the
Merry Little Breezes； and then they tickled and laughed as if they had had
a good time with Farmer Brown's boy。
But old Granny Fox didn't laughoh； my； no； indeed！ Her heart went
lower still； and she did her best to run faster。 Pretty soon she came out on
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
the top of the hill where she could look； and then it seemed as if her heart
came right up in her mouth and stopped beating。 Her eyes popped almost
out of her head。 There was Farmer Brown's boy standing right in front of
the door of her home。 And while she was watching； what should Reddy
Fox do but stick his head out the door。
Old Granny Fox saw the gun of Farmer Brown's boy pointed right at
Reddy and she clapped both hands over her eyes to shut out the dreadful
sight。 Then she waited for the bang of the gun。 It didn't come。 Then
Granny peeped through her fingers。 Farmer Brown's boy was still there；
but Reddy Fox had disappeared inside the house。
Granny Fox sighed in relief。 It had been a terrible scare； the worst she
could remember。
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
XXIV。 Granny and Reddy Have To
Move
〃I don't want to move；〃 whined Reddy Fox。 〃I'm too sore to walk。〃
Old Granny Fox gave him a shove。 〃You go along and do as I say！〃
she snapped。 〃If you had minded me； we wouldn't have to move。 It's all
your own fault。 The wonder is that you weren't killed when you poked
your head out right in front of Farmer Brown's boy。 Now that he knows
where we live； he will give us no peace。 Move along lively now！ This is
the best home I have ever had； and now I've got to leave it。 Oh dear！ Oh
dear！〃
Reddy Fox hobbled along up the long hall and out the front door。 He
was walking on three legs； and at every step he made a face because； you
know； it hurt so to walk。
The little stars； looking down from the sky； saw Reddy Fox limp out
the door of the house he had lived in so long； and right behind him came
old Granny Fox。 Granny sighed and wiped away a tear； as she said good…
by to her old home。 Reddy Fox was thinking too much of his own troubles
to notice how badly Granny Fox was feeling。 Every few steps he had to sit
down and rest because it hurt him so to walk。
〃I don't see the use of moving tonight； anyway。 It would be a lot easier
and pleasanter when the sun is shining。 This night air makes me so stiff
that I know I never will get over it；〃 grumbled Reddy Fox。
Old Granny Fox listened to him for a while； and then she lost patience。
Yes； Sir； Granny Fox lost patience。 She boxed Reddy Fox first on one ear
and then on the other。 Reddy began to snivel。
〃Stop that！〃 said Granny Fox sharply。 〃Do you want all the neighbors
to know that we have got to move？ They'll find it out soon enough。 Now
come along without any more fuss。 If you don't； I'll just go off and leave
you to shift for yourself。 Then how will you get anything to eat？〃
Reddy Fox wiped his eyes on his coat sleeve and hobbled along as best
he could。 Granny Fox would run a little way ahead to see that the way was
safe and then come back for Reddy。 Poor Reddy。 He did his best not to
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
complain； but it was such hard work。 And somehow Reddy Fox didn't
believe that it was at all necessary。 He had been terribly frightened when
he had disobeyed Granny Fox that afternoon and put his head out the door；
only to look right into the freckled face of Farmer Brown's boy。 He had
ducked back out of sight again too quickly for Farmer Brown's boy to
shoot； and now he couldn't see why old Granny Fox wanted to move that
very night。
〃She's getting old。 She's getting old and timid and fussy；〃 muttered
Reddy Fox； as he hobbled along behind her。
It seemed to Reddy as if they had walked miles and miles。 He really
thought that they had been walking nearly all night when old Granny Fox
stopped in front of the worst…looking old fox house Reddy had ever seen。
〃Here we are！〃 said she。
〃What！ Are we going to live in that thing？〃 cried Reddy。 〃It isn't fit for
any respectable fox to put his nose into。〃
〃It is where I was born！〃 snapped old Granny Fox。 〃If you want to
keep out of harm's way； don't go to putting on airs now。
〃Who scorns the simple things of life And tilts his nose at all he
sees； Is almost sure to feel the knife Of want cut through his
pleasant ease。
〃Now don't let me hear another word from you； but get inside at
once！〃
Reddy Fox didn't quite understand all Granny Fox said； but he knew
when she was to be obeyed； and so he crawled gingerly through the
broken…down doorway。
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
XXV。 Peter Rabbit Makes a
Discovery
Hardly had jolly； round； red Mr。 Sun thrown off his nightcap and come
out from his home behind the Purple Hills for his daily climb up in the
blue； blue sky； when Farmer Brown's boy started down the Lone Little
Path through the Green Forest。
Peter Rabbit； who had been out all night and was just then on his way
home； saw him。 Peter stopped and sat up to rub his eyes and look again。
He wasn't quite sure that he had seen aright the first time。 But he had。
There was Farmer Brown's boy； sure enough； and at his heels trotted
Bowser the Hound。
Peter Rabbit rubbed his eyes once more and wrinkled up his eyebrows。
Farmer Brown's boy certainly had a gun over one shoulder and a spade
over the other。 Where could he be going down the Lone Little Path with a
spade？ Farmer Brown's garden certainly was not in that direction。 Peter
watched him out of sight and then he hurried down to the Green Meadows
to tell Johnny Chuck what he had seen。 My； how Peter's long legs did fly！
He was so excited that he had forgotten how sleepy he had felt a few
minutes before。
Halfway down to Johnny Chuck's house； Peter Rabbit almost ran
plump into Bobby Coon and Jimmy Skunk； who had been quarreling and
were calling each other names。 They stopped when they saw Peter Rabbit。
〃Peter Rabbit runs away
