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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
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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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
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。 〃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 disap