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III。 Bowser the Hound Isn't Fooled
Reddy Fox had been taught so much by Granny Fox that he began to
feel very wise and very important。 Reddy is naturally smart and he had
been very quick to learn the tricks that old Granny Fox had taught him。
But Reddy Fox is a boaster。 Every day he swaggered about on the Green
Meadows and bragged how smart he was。 Blacky the Crow grew tired of
Reddy's boasting。
〃If you're so smart； what is the reason you always keep out of sight of
Bowser the Hound？〃 asked Blacky。 〃For my part； I don't believe that you
are smart enough to fool him。〃
A lot of little meadow people heard Blacky say this； and Reddy knew
it。 He also knew that if he didn't prove Blacky in the wrong he would be
laughed at forever after。 Suddenly he remembered the trick that Granny
Fox had played on the young hound at the railroad bridge。 Why not play
the same trick on Bowser and invite Blacky the Crow to see him do it？ He
would。
〃If you will be over at the railroad bridge when the train comes this
afternoon； I'll show you how easy it is to fool Bowser the Hound；〃 said
Reddy。
Blacky agreed to be there； and Reddy started off to find out where
Bowser was。 Blacky told everyone he met how Reddy Fox had promised
to fool Bowser the Hound； and every time he told it he chuckled as if he
thought it the best joke ever。
Blacky the Crow was on hand promptly that afternoon and with him
came his cousin； Sammy Jay。 Presently they saw Reddy Fox hurrying
across the fields； and behind him in full cry came Bowser the Hound。 Just
as old Granny Fox had done with the young hound； Reddy allowed
Bowser to get very near him and then； as the train came roaring along； he
raced across the long bridge just ahead of it。 He had thought that Bowser
would be so intent on catching him that he would not notice the train until
he was on the bridge and it was too late； as had been the case with the
young hound。 Then Bowser would have to jump down into the swift river
or be run over。 As soon as Reddy was across the bridge； he jumped off the
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track and turned to see what would happen to Bowser the Hound。 The
train was halfway across the bridge； but Bowser was nowhere to be seen。
He must have jumped already。 Reddy sat down and grinned in the most
self…satisfied way。
The long train roared past； and Reddy closed his eyes to shut out the
dust and smoke。 When he opened them again； he looked right into the
wide…open mouth of Bowser the Hound； who was not ten feet away。
〃Did you think you could fool me with that old trick？〃 roared Bowser。
Reddy didn't stop to make reply； he just started off at the top of his
speed； a badly frightened little fox。
You see； Bowser the Hound knew all about that trick and he had just
waited until the train had passed and then had run across the bridge right
behind it。
And as Reddy Fox； out of breath and tired； ran to seek the aid of
Granny Fox in getting rid of Bowser the Hound； he heard a sound that
made him grind his teeth。
〃Haw； haw； haw！ How smart we are！〃
It was Blacky the Crow。
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
IV。 Reddy Fox Grows Bold
Reddy Fox was growing bold。 Everybody said so； and what everybody
says must be so。 Reddy Fox had always been very sly and not bold at all。
The truth is Reddy Fox had so many times fooled Bowser the Hound and
Farmer Brown's boy that he had begun to think himself very smart indeed。
He had really fooled himself。 Yes； Sir； Reddy Fox had fooled himself。 He
thought himself so smart that nobody could fool him。
Now it is one of the worst habits in the world to think too much of
one's self。 And Reddy Fox had the habit。 Oh； my； yes！ Reddy Fox certainly
did have the habit！ When anyone mentioned Bowser the Hound； Reddy
would turn up his nose and say： 〃Pooh！ It's the easiest thing in the world to
fool him。〃
You see； he had forgotten all about the time Bowser had fooled him at
the railroad bridge。
Whenever Reddy saw Farmer Brown's boy he would say with the
greatest scorn： 〃Who's afraid of him？ Not I！〃
So as Reddy Fox thought more and more of his own smartness； he
grew bolder and bolder。 Almost every night he visited Farmer Brown's
henyard。 Farmer Brown set traps all around the yard； but Reddy always
found them and kept out of them。 It got so that Unc' Billy Possum and
Jimmy Skunk didn't dare go to the henhouse for eggs any more； for fear
that they would get into one of the traps set for Reddy Fox。 Of course they
missed those fresh eggs and of course they blamed Reddy Fox。
〃Never mind；〃 said Jimmy Skunk； scowling down on the Green
Meadows where Reddy Fox was taking a sun bath； 〃Farmer Brown's boy
will get him yet！ I hope he does！〃 Jimmy said this a little spitefully and
just as if he really meant it。
Now when people think that they are very； very smart； they like to
show off。 You know it isn't any fun at all to feel smart unless others can
see how smart you are。 So Reddy Fox； just to show off； grew very bold；
very bold indeed。 He actually went up to Farmer Brown's henyard in broad
daylight； and almost under the nose of Bowser the Hound he caught the
pet chicken of Farmer Brown's boy。 'Ol Mistah Buzzard； sailing overhead
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high up in the blue； blue sky； saw Reddy Fox and shook his bald head：
〃Ah see Trouble on the way； Yes； Ah do！ Yes； Ah do！ Hope it ain't a…
gwine to stay； Yes； Ah do！ Yes； Ah do！ Trouble am a spry ol' man； Bound
to find yo' if he can； If he finds yo' bound to stick。 When Ah sees him； Ah
runs quick！ Yes； Ah do！ Yes； Ah do！〃
But Reddy Fox thought himself so smart that it seemed as if he really
were hunting for Ol' Mr。 Trouble。 And when he caught the pet chicken of
Farmer Brown's boy； Ol' Mr。 Trouble was right at his heels。
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V。 Reddy Grows Careless
Ol' Mistah Buzzard was right。 Trouble was right at the heels of Reddy
Fox； although Reddy wouldn't have believed