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movement he made a face。 That was because it hurt so。
Peter Rabbit； watching from the clump of bushes； knew then that
Reddy was not pretending。 He knew that he had nothing； not the least little
thing； to fear from Reddy Fox。 So Peter gave a whoop of joy and sprang
out into view。
Reddy looked up and tried to grin； but made a face of pain instead。
You see； it hurt so to move。
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
〃I suppose you're tickled to death to see me like this；〃 he growled to
Peter Rabbit。
Now Peter had every reason to be glad； for Reddy Fox had tried his
best to catch Peter Rabbit to give to old Granny Fox for her dinner； and
time and again Peter had just barely escaped。 So at first Peter Rabbit had
whooped with joy。 But as he saw how very helpless Reddy really was and
how much pain he felt； suddenly Peter Rabbit's big； soft eyes filled with
tears of pity。
He forgot all about the threats of Reddy Fox and how Reddy had tried
to trick him。 He forgot all about how mean Reddy had been。
〃Poor Reddy Fox；〃 said Peter Rabbit。 〃Poor Reddy Fox。〃
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
XI。 Granny Fox Returns
Up over the hill trotted old Granny Fox。 She was on her way home
with a tender young chicken for Reddy Fox。 Poor Reddy！ Of course； it
was his own fault； for he had been showing off and he had been careless or
he never would have gone so near to the old tree trunk behind which
Farmer Brown's boy was hiding。
But old Granny Fox didn't know this。 She never makes such mistakes
herself。 Oh； my； no！ So now； as she came up over the hill to a place where
she could see her home； she laid the chicken down and then she crept
behind a little bush and looked all over the Green Meadows to see if the
way was clear。 She knew that Bowser the Hound was chained up。 She had
seen Farmer Brown and Farmer Brown's boy hoeing in the cornfield； so
she had nothing to fear from them。
Looking over to her doorstep； she saw Reddy Fox lying in the sun； and
then she saw something else； something that made her eyes flash and her
teeth come together with a snap。 It was Peter Rabbit sitting up very
straight； not ten feet from Reddy Fox。
〃So that's that young scamp of a Peter Rabbit whom Reddy was going
to catch for me when I was sick and couldn't！ I'll just show Reddy Fox
how easily it can be done； and he shall have tender young rabbit with his
chicken！〃 said Granny Fox to herself。
So first she studied and studied every clump of grass and every bush
behind which she could creep。 She saw that she could get almost to where
Peter Rabbit was sitting and never once show herself to him。 Then she
looked this way and looked that way to make sure that no one was
watching her。
No one did she see on the Green Meadows who was looking her way。
Then Granny Fox began to crawl from one clump of grass to another and
from bush to bush。 Sometimes she wriggled along flat on her stomach。
Little by little she was drawing nearer and nearer to Peter Rabbit。
Now with all her smartness old Granny Fox had forgotten one thing。
Yes； Sir； she had forgotten one thing。 Never once had she thought to look
up in the sky。
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
And there was Ol' Mistah Buzzard sailing round and round and
looking down and seeing all that was going on below。
Ol' Mistah Buzzard is sharp。 He knew just what old Granny Fox was
planning to doknew it as well as if he had read her thoughts。 His eyes
twinkled。
〃Ah cert'nly can't allow li'l' Brer Rabbit to be hurt； Ah cert'nly can't！〃
muttered Ol' Mistah Buzzard； and chuckled。
Then he slanted his broad wings downward and without a sound slid
down out of the sky till he was right behind Granny Fox。
〃Do yo' always crawl home； Granny Fox？〃 asked Ol' Mistah Buzzard。
Granny Fox was so startled； for she hadn't heard a sound； that she
jumped almost out of her skin。 Of course Peter Rabbit saw her then； and
was off like a shot。
Granny Fox showed all her teeth。 〃I wish you would mind your own
business； Mistah Buzzard！〃 she snarled。
〃Cert'nly； cert'nly； Ah sho'ly will！〃 replied Ol' Mistah Buzzard； and
sailed up into the blue； blue sky。
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
XII。 The Lost Chicken
When old Granny Fox had laid down the chicken she was bringing
home to Reddy Fox to try to catch Peter Rabbit； she had meant to go right
back and get it as soon as she had caught Peter。 Now she saw Peter going
across the Green Meadows； lipperty…lipperty…lip； as fast as he could go。
She was so angry that she hopped up and down。 She tore up the grass and
ground her long； white teeth。 She glared up at Ol' Mistah Buzzard； who
had warned Peter Rabbit； but all she could do was to scold； and that didn't
do her much good； for in a few minutes Ol' Mistah Buzzard was so far up
in the blue； blue sky that he couldn't hear a word she was saying。 My； my；
but old Granny Fox certainly was angry！ If she hadn't been so angry she
might have seen Johnny Chuck lying as flat as he could make himself
behind a big clump of grass。
Johnny Chuck was scared。 Yes； indeed； Johnny Chuck was dreadfully
scared。 He had fought Reddy Fox and whipped him； but he knew that old
Granny Fox would be too much for him。 So it was with great relief that
Johnny Chuck saw her stop tearing up the grass and trot over to see how
Reddy Fox was getting along。 Then Johnny Chuck crept along until he
was far enough away to run。 How he did run！ He was so fat and roly…poly
that he was all out of breath when he reached home； and so tired that he
just dropped down on his doorstep and panted。
〃Serves me right for having so much curiosity；〃 said Johnny Chuck to
himself。
Reddy Fox looked up as old Granny Fox came hurrying home。 He was
weak and very； very hungry。 But he felt sure that old Granny Fox would
bring him something nice for his breakfast； and as soon as he heard her
footsteps his mouth began to water。
〃Did you bring me something nice； Granny？〃 asked Reddy Fox。
Now old Granny Fox