st guess what had become of Bowser. One was Old
Man Coyote, who had, as you remember, led Bowser far away and got him
lost. The other was Blacky the Crow, who had discovered Bowser in his
trouble and had helped him.

Old Man Coyote didn't know exactly where Bowser was, and he wasn't
interested enough to think much about it. He hoped that Bowser had been
so badly lost that he never would return. Blacky the Crow knew exactly
where Bowser was, but he kept it to himself. It pleases Blacky to have a
secret which other people would give much to know. Blacky is one of
those people who can keep a secret. He isn't at all like Peter Rabbit.

Reddy Fox was one who was very much interested in the fate of Bowser
the Hound. As day after day went by and Bowser did not appear, Reddy had
a growing hope that he never would appear.

"I can't imagine what Old Man Coyote could have done to Bowser," said
Reddy to himself. "He certainly couldn't have killed Bowser in a fight,
for that old rascal would never in the world dare face Bowser the Hound
in a fight. But he certainly has caused something to happen to Bowser.
If that bothersome dog never returns, it certainly will make things a
lot easier for Granny Fox and myself."

As for Farmer Brown's boy, he was as much puzzled as any of the little
people and a whole lot more worried. He drove all about the
neighborhood, asking at every house if anything had been seen of
Bowser, Nowhere did he get any trace of him. No one had seen him. It was
very mysterious. Farmer Brown's boy had begun to suspect that Bowser had
met with an accident somewhere off in the woods and had been unable to
get help. It made Farmer Brown's boy very sad indeed. His cheery whistle
was no longer heard, for he did not feel like whistling. At last he
quite gave up hope of ever again seeing Bowser.

CHAPTER XX

WHERE BOWSER WAS

When things are at their very worst,
As bad, you think, as they can be,
Just lay aside your feelings sad;
The road ahead may turn, you see.

_Bowser the Hound._

You remember that Blacky the Crow led poor Bowser to an old road and
there left him. Blacky reasoned that if Bowser had any sense at all, he
would know that that road must lead somewhere and would follow it. If he
didn't have sense enough to do this, he deserved to starve or freeze,
was the way Blacky reasoned it out. Of course Blacky knew exactly where
the road would lead.

Now Bowser did have sense.