Bowser the Hound

by Thornton W. Burgess

  Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Cori Samuel and the PG OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team.

  "AS I LIVE," HE MUTTERED, "THAT IS BOWSER THE HOUND!"_Page 29._]

  BOWSER THE HOUND

  BY

  THORNTON W. BURGESS

  _With Illustrations by_

  _HARRISON CADY_

  This book, while produced under wartime conditions, in full compliancewith government regulations for the conservation of paper and otheressential materials, is COMPLETE AND UNABRIDGED

  GROSSET & DUNLAP

  PublishersNew York

  _Printed by arrangement with Little, Brown, and Company_

  _Copyright, 1920,_BY LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY._All rights reserved_

  =Dedication=

  TO THE CHILD'S LOVING PLAYMATE,LOYAL PROTECTORAND STAUNCH ALLY--THE DOG,THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER PAGE

  I OLD MAN COYOTE LEADS BOWSER AWAY 1

  II OLD MAN COYOTE PLAYS A TRICK 6

  III WHAT HAPPENED TO BOWSER 10

  IV POOR BOWSER 15

  V BOWSER SPENDS A BAD NIGHT 20

  VI THE SURPRISE OF BLACKY THE CROW 25

  VII BLACKY THE CROW TAKES PITY ON BOWSER 30

  VIII HOW BLACKY THE CROW HELPED BOWSER 34

  IX OLD MAN COYOTE GIVES OUT DARK HINTS 39

  X HOW REDDY FOX INVESTIGATED 44

  XI A LITTLE UNPLEASANTNESS 49

  XII THE CLEVERNESS OF OLD MAN COYOTE 54

  XIII THE MISCHIEVOUS LITTLE NIGHT BREEZE 59

  XIV THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE 64

  XV REDDY'S FORLORN CHANCE 69

  XVI WHY REDDY WENT WITHOUT A CHICKEN DINNER 74

  XVII FARMER BROWN'S BOY DROPS A PAN OF CORN 79

  XVIII MUTUAL RELIEF 84

  XIX WHERE WAS BOWSER THE HOUND? 89

  XX WHERE BOWSER WAS 93

  XXI BOWSER BECOMES A PRISONER 98

  XXII FARMER BROWN'S BOY LOOKS IN VAIN 103

  XXIII BOWSER'S GREAT VOICE 107

  XXIV BLACKY TRIES TO GET HELP 112

  XXV BLACKY CALLS ON REDDY FOX 117

  XXVI RED WITS AND BLACK WITS 122

  XXVII THE ARTFULNESS OF BLACKY 127

  XXVIII REDDY FOX DREAMS OF CHICKENS 131

  XXIX REDDY TRIES TO AROUSE BLACKY'S PITY 136

  XXX BLACKY THE CROW IS ALL PITY 141

  XXXI BLACKY IS MUCH PLEASED WITH HIMSELF 146

  XXXII BLACKY WAITS FOR REDDY 151

  XXXIII REDDY WATCHES THE FAT HENS 156

  XXXIV PATIENCE AND IMPATIENCE 161

  XXXV THINGS HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE 166

  XXXVI REDDY HIDES THE FAT HEN 171

  XXXVII FARMER BROWN'S BOY HAS A GLAD SURPRISE 176

  XXXVIII REDDY GOES BACK FOR HIS FAT HEN 181

  XXXIX A VANISHED DINNER 186

  XL WHERE WAS REDDY'S DINNER? 191

  XLI WHAT BLACKY THE CROW SAW 196

  XLII ALL IS WELL THAT ENDS WELL 201

  LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

  "As I live," he muttered, "that is Bowser the Hound!" _Frontispiece_

  Over at the gate of Farmer Brown's henyard he couldsee a dark form 53

  Somewhere not very far ahead of him was a house 96

  On broad wings it sailed over to that hollow stump 199

  CHAPTER I

  OLD MAN COYOTE LEADS BOWSER AWAY

  Though great or small the matter prove Be faithful in whate'er you do. 'Tis thus and only thus you may To others and yourself be true.

  _Bowser the Hound._

  Old Man Coyote is full of tricks. People with such clever wits as hisusually are full of tricks. On the other hand Bowser the Hound isn'ttricky at all. He just goes straight ahead with the thing he has to doand does it in the most earnest way. Not being tricky himself, hesometimes forgets to watch out for tricks in others.

  One day he found the fresh trail of Old Man Coyote and made up his mindthat he would run down Old Man Coyote if he had to run his legs off todo it. He always makes up his mind like that whenever he starts out tohunt. You know there is nothing in the world Bowser enjoys quite so muchas to hunt some one who will give him a long, hard run. Any time he willgo without eating for the pleasure of chasing Reddy or Granny Fox, orOld Man Coyote.

  Now Old Man Coyote was annoyed. He was and he wasn't afraid of Bowserthe Hound. That is to say he was afraid to fight Bowser, but he wasn'tafraid to be hunted by Bowser, because he was so sure that he was smartenough to get away from Bowser. If Bowser had appeared at almost anyother time Old Man Coyote wouldn't have been so annoyed. But to haveBowser appear just then made him angry clear through. You see he hadjust started out to get his dinner.

  "What business has that good-for-nothing dog over here anyway, I'd liketo know," he muttered, as he ran swiftly through the Green Forest. "Whatright has he to meddle in other folks' business? I'll just teach thatfellow a lesson; that's what I'll do! I'll teach him that he can'tinterfere with me not be sorry for it."

  So Old Man Coyote ran and ran and ran, and never once did he try tobreak his trail. In fact, he took pains to leave a trail that Bowsercould follow easily. After him Bowser ran and ran and ran, and all thetime his great voice rang out joyously. This was the kind of a hunt heloved. Out of the Green Forest into the Old Pasture, Old Man Coyote ledBowser the Hound. Across the Old Pasture and out on the other side theyraced. Farther and farther away from home Old Man Coyote led Bowser theHound. Instead of circling back as usual, he kept on. Bowser kept onafter him. By and by he was in strange country, country he had nevervisited before. He didn't notice this. He didn't notice anything but thesplendid trail Old Man Coyote was making. He didn't even realize that hewas getting tired. Always in his nose was the tantalizing scent of OldMan Coyote. Bowser was sure that this time he would catch this fellowwho had fooled him so often before.

  CHAPTER II

  OLD MAN COYOTE PLAYS A TRICK

  Of people who play tricks beware, Lest they may get you in a snare. You cannot trust them, so watch out Whenever one may be about.

  _Bowser the Hound._

  There is such a thing as being too much interested in the thing you aredoing. That is the way accidents very often happen. A person will get sointerested in something that he will be blind and deaf to everythingelse, and so will walk straight into danger or trouble of some kind.

  Now just take the case of Bowser the Hound. Bowser was so interested inthe chase of Old Man Coyote that he paid no attention whatever toanything but the warm scent of Old Man Coyote which the latter wastaking pains to leave. Bowser ran with his nose in Old Man Coyote'stracks and never looked either to left or right. He would lift his headonly to look straight ahead in the hope of seeing Old Man Coyote. Thendown would go his nose again to follow that scent.
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  So Bowser didn't notice that Old Man Coyote was leading him far, faraway from home into country with which he was quite unacquainted. Bowserhas a great, deep, wonderful voice which can be heard a very longdistance when he bays on the tracks of some one he is hunting. It canbe heard a very long distance indeed. But far as it can be heard, Bowserwas far, far beyond hearing distance from Farmer Brown's house beforeOld Man Coyote began to even think of playing one of his clever tricksin order to make Bowser lose his scent. You see, Old Man Coyote intendedto lead Bowser into strange country and there lose him, hoping that hewould not be able to find the way home.

  Old Man Coyote is himself a tireless runner. He is not so heavy as isBowser, so does not tire as easily. Then, too, he had not wasted hisbreath as had Bowser with his steady baying. Old Man Coyote could tellby the sound of Bowser's voice when the latter was beginning to growtired, and he could tell by the fact that he often had a moment or twoto sit down and rest before Bowser got dangerously near.

  So at last Old Man Coyote decided that the time had come to play atrick. By and by he came to a river. At that point there was a high,overhanging bank. On the very edge of this bank Old Man Coyote made along leap to one side. Then he made another long leap to the big trunkof a fallen tree. He ran along this and from the end of it made stillanother long leap, as long a leap as he could. Then he hid in a littlethicket to see what would happen.

  CHAPTER III

  WHAT HAPPENED TO BOWSER

  When a Coyote seems most honest, watch him closest.

  _Bowser the Hound._

  Bowser was very, very tired. He wouldn't admit it even to himself, forwhen he is hunting he will keep on until he drops if his wonderful nosecan still catch the scent of the one he is following. Bowser iswonderfully persistent. So, though he was very, very tired, he kept hisnose to the ground and tried to run even faster, for the scent of OldMan Coyote was so strong that Bowser felt sure he would soon catch him.

  Bowser didn't look to see where he was going. He didn't care. It wasenough for him to know that Old Man Coyote had gone that way, and whereOld Man Coyote could go Bowser felt sure he could follow. So, stillbaying with all his might and making the hills ring with the sound ofhis great voice, Bowser kept on.

  Hidden in a little thicket, stretched out so that he might rest better,Old Man Coyote listened to that great voice drawing nearer and nearer.There was a wicked grin on Old Man Coyote's face, and in his yellow eyesa look of great eagerness. In a few minutes Bowser came in sight, hisnose in the trail Old Man Coyote had left. Into Bowser's voice crept anew note of eagerness as his nose picked up the scent stronger thanever. Straight on he raced and it seemed as if he had gained newstrength. His whole thought was on just one thing--catching Old ManCoyote, and Old Man Coyote knew it.

  Bowser didn't see that he was coming to a steep bank. He didn't see itat all until he reached the edge of it, and then he was going so fastthat he couldn't stop. Over he went with a frightened yelp! Down, downhe fell, and landed with a thump on the ice below. He landed so hardthat he broke the ice, and went through into the cold, black water.

  Old Man Coyote crept to the edge of the bank and peeped over. PoorBowser was having a terrible time. You see, the cold water had takenwhat little breath his fall had not knocked out of him. He doesn't liketo go in water anyway. You know the hair of his coat is short anddoesn't protect him as it would if it were long. Old Man Coyote grinnedwickedly as he watched Bowser struggling feebly to climb out on the ice.Each time he tried he slipped back, and all the time he was whimpering.

  Old Man Coyote grinned more wickedly than ever. I suspect that he hopedthat Bowser would not be able to get out. But after a little Bowser didmanage to crawl out, and stood on the ice, shivering shaking. Once moreOld Man Coyote grinned, then, turning, he trotted back towards FarmerBrown's.

  CHAPTER IV

  POOR BOWSER

  Follow a crooked trail and you will find a scamp at the end.

  _Bowser the Hound._

  Poor Bowser! He stood shivering and shaking on the ice of the strangeriver to which Old Man Coyote had led him, and he knew not which way toturn. Not only was he shivering and shaking from his cold bath, but hewas bruised by his fall from the top of the steep bank, and he was sotired by his long run after Old Man Coyote that he could hardly stand.

  Old Man Coyote had stayed only long enough to see that Bowser hadmanaged to get out of the water, then had turned back towards the OldPasture, the Green Meadows and the Green Forest near Farmer Brown's. Yousee, Old Man Coyote knew the way back. He would take his time aboutgetting there, for it really made no particular difference to him whenhe reached home. He felt sure he would be able to find something to eaton the way.

  But with Bowser it was very different. Poor Bowser didn't know where hewas. It would have been bad enough under any circumstances to have beenlost, but to be lost and at the same time tired almost to death, bruisedand lame, wet and chilled through, was almost too much to bear. Hehadn't the least idea which way to turn. He couldn't climb up the bankto find his own trail and follow it back home if he wanted to. You see,that bank was very steep for some distance in each direction, and so itwas impossible for Bowser to climb it.

  For a few minutes he stood shivering, shaking and whimpering, notknowing which way to turn. Then he started down the river on the ice,for he knew he would freeze if he continued to stand still. He limpedbadly because one leg had been hurt in his fall. After a while he cameto a place where he could get up on the bank. It was in the midst ofdeep woods and a very, very lonely place. Hard crusted snow covered theground, but it was better than walking on the ice and for this Bowserwas thankful.

  Which way should he turn? Where should he go? Night was coming on; hewas wet, cold and hungry, and as utterly lost as ever a dog was. PoorBowser! For a minute or two he sat down and howled from sheerlonesomeness and discouragement. How he did wish he had left Old ManCoyote alone! How he did long for his snug, warm, little house in FarmerBrown's dooryard, and for the good meal he knew was awaiting him there.Now that the excitement of the hunt was over, he realized how very, veryhungry he was, and he began to wonder where he would be able to getanything to eat. Do you wonder that he howled?

  Old Man Coyote, trotting along on his way home, heard that howl andunderstood it. Again he grinned that wicked grin of his, and stopped tolisten. "I don't think he'll hunt me again in a hurry," he muttered,then trotted on. Poor Bowser! Hunting for anything but his home wasfarthest from his thoughts.

  CHAPTER V

  BOWSER SPENDS A BAD NIGHT

  There's nothing like just sticking to The thing you undertake to do. There'll be no cause then, though you fail, To hang your head or drop your tail.

  _Bowser the Hound._

  Bowser was lost, utterly lost. He hadn't the least idea in whichdirection Farmer Brown's house was. In fact he hadn't the least ideawhich way to turn to find any house. It was the most lonely kind of alonely place to which Old Man Coyote had led him and there played thetrick on him which had caused him to tumble into the strange river.

  But Bowser couldn't stand still for long. Already jolly, round, red Mr.Sun was going to bed behind the Purple Hills, and Bowser knew that coldas had been the day, the night would be still colder. He must keepmoving until he found a shelter. If he didn't he would freeze. Sowhimpering and whining, Bowser limped along.

  Bowser was not afraid to be out at night as some folks are. Goodness,no! In fact, on many a moonlight night Bowser had hunted Reddy Fox orGranny Fox all night long. Never once had he felt lonesome then. But nowit was very, very different. You see, on those nights when he had huntedhe always had known where he was. He had known that at any time hecould go straight home if he wanted to. That made all the difference inthe world.

  It would have been bad enough, being lost this way, had he been feelingat his best. Being lost always makes one feel terribly lonesome.Lonesomeness is one of the worst parts of the feeling of being lost. Butadded to this was the fac
t that Bowser was really not in fit conditionto be out at all. He was wet, tired, lame and hungry. Do you wonder thathe whimpered and whined as he limped along over the hard snow, andhadn't the least idea whether he was headed towards home or deeper intothe great woods?

  For a long time he kept on until it seemed to him he couldn't drag onefoot after another. Then quite suddenly something big and dark loomed upin front of him. It really wasn't as big as it seemed. It was a littlehouse, a sugar camp, just such a one as Farmer Brown has near his home.Bowser crept to the door. It was closed. Bowser sniffed and sniffed andhis heart sank, for there was no scent of human beings. Then he knewthat that little house was deserted and empty. Still he whined andscratched at the door. By and by the door opened ever so little, for ithad not been locked.

  Bowser crept in. In one corner he found some hay, and in this he curledup. It was cold, very cold, but not nearly as cold as outside thatlittle house. So Bowser curled up in the hay and shivered and shook andslept a little and wished with all his might that he never had found thetracks of Old Man Coyote.

  CHAPTER VI

  THE SURPRISE OF BLACKY THE CROW

  The harder it is to follow a trail The greater the reason you should not fail.

  _Bowser the Hound._

  At all seasons of the year Blacky the Crow is something of a traveler.But in winter he is much more of a traveler than in summer. You see, inwinter it is not nearly so easy to pick up a living. Food is quite asscarce for Blacky the Crow in winter as for any of the other littlepeople who neither sleep the winter away nor go south. All of thefeathered folks have to work and work hard to find food enough to keepthem warm. You know it is food that makes heat in the body.