_Bowser the Hound._
There were just two people to whom the disappearance of that fat henReddy Fox had hidden in the hollow stump was not a mystery. One of themwas Blacky the Crow. When the farmer and Bowser the Hound had rushed outat the sound of Blacky's excited cawing, Blacky had flown to the top ofa tall tree from which he could see all that went on. Everything hadhappened just as Blacky had hoped it would. Bowser had taken the trailof Reddy Fox, and Blacky felt sure that sooner or later Reddy would leadhim back home to Farmer Brown's.
Blacky was doubly pleased with himself. He was pleased to think that hehad found a way of getting Bowser back home, and he was quite as muchpleased because he had been smart enough to outwit Reddy Fox. He didn'twish Reddy any harm, and he felt sure that no harm would come to him. Hedidn't even wish him to lose that dinner Reddy had come so far to get,but he didn't care if Reddy did lose it, if only his plan worked out ashe hoped it would.
"I wonder what he'll do with that fat hen," muttered Blacky, as hewatched Reddy race away with it thrown over his shoulders. "He can'tcarry that hen far and keep out of the way of Bowser. I think I'llfollow and see what he does with it."
So Blacky followed, and his eyes twinkled when he saw Reddy hide the fathen in the hollow stump. He knew that no matter how far Bowser mightchase Reddy, Reddy would come back for that fat hen, and he was ratherglad to think that Reddy would have that good dinner after all.
"No one will ever think to look in that hollow stump," thought Blacky,"and I certainly will not tell any one. Reddy has earned that dinner.Now I think I'll go get something to eat myself."
At that very instant Blacky's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of a gray formwith broad wings, and in a perfect panic of fear Blacky began to fly asfast as he knew how for a thick spruce-tree not far away. He plunged inamong the branches and hid in the thickest part he could find. Withlittle shivers of fear running all over him, he peeked out and watchedthat big gray form. On broad wings it sailed over to that hollow stump.Two long legs with great curving claws reached down in, and a momentlater that fat hen was disappearing over the tree tops. Blacky sighedwith relief.
ON BROAD WINGS IT SAILED OVER TO THAT HOLLOW STUMP. _Page199._]
"It's a lucky thing for me that robber, Mr. Goshawk, saw Reddy hide thatfat hen," muttered Blacky. "If he hadn't, he might have caught me, for Ididn't see him at all."
CHAPTER XLII
ALL IS WELL THAT ENDS WELL
When things go wrong, just patient be Until the end you plainly see. For often things that seem all bad Will end by making all hands glad.
_Bowser the Hound._
Reddy Fox, trotting homeward, had nothing but bitterness in his heart,and nothing at all in his stomach. He was tired and hungry and bitterlydisappointed. He was in a country with which he was not familiar, and sohe did not know where to hunt, and he felt that he just must getsomething to eat. Do what he would, he couldn't help thinking aboutthat fat hen he had hidden and which had so mysteriously disappeared.The more he thought of it, the worse he felt. It was bad enough to behungry and have no idea where the next meal was coming from, but it wasmany times worse to have had that meal and then lose it. To Reddy,everything was all wrong.
Now on his way home Ready had to pass several farms. Hunger made himbold, and at each farm he stole softly as near as possible to thefarmyard, hoping that he might find more fat hens unguarded. Now ithappened that that afternoon a farmer at one of these farms waspreparing some chickens to be taken to market early the next morning. Hewas picking these chickens in a shed attached to the barn. He hadseveral all picked when he was called to the house on an errand.
It happened that just after he had disappeared Reddy Fox came stealingaround from behind the barn, and at once he smelled those chickens. Justimagine how Reddy felt when he peeped in that shed and saw those finechickens just waiting for him. Two minutes later Reddy was racing backto the woods with one of them. This time there was no dog behind him.And in a little hollow Reddy ate the finest dinner he ever had had. Yousee there were no feathers to bother him on that chicken, for it hadbeen picked. When the last bit had disappeared, Reddy once more startedfor home, and this time he was happy, for his stomach was full.
Long before Reddy got back to the Old Pasture Farmer Brown's boy andBowser the Hound had reached home. Such a fuss as everybody did makeover Bowser. It seemed as if each one at Farmer Brown's was trying tospoil Bowser. As for Bowser himself, he was the happiest dog in all theGreat World.
Blacky the Crow got back to the Green Forest near Farmer Brown's justbefore jolly, round Mr. Sun went to bed. Blacky had found plenty to eatand he had seen no more of fierce Mr. Goshawk. As Blacky settled himselfon his roost he heard from the direction of Farmer Brown's house a greatvoice. It was the voice of Bowser the Hound trying to express his joy inbeing home. Blacky chuckled contentedly. He, too, was happy, for italways makes one happy to have one's plans succeed.
"All's well that end's well," he chuckled, and closed his eyes sleepily.
Blacky never could have fooled old Granny Fox as he did Reddy. She isfar too smart to be fooled even by so clever a scamp as Blacky. She isso smart that she deserves a book all her own, and so the next volume inthis series will be Old Granny Fox.
THE END
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