ed this way and that way, and all the
time Bowser the Hound got closer and closer.

Now way off on the hill behind the White Meadows Mother Fox had been
hunting for her supper. She had heard the "Yap-yap-yap" of Reddy Fox
as he barked at the moon, and she had heard Bowser baying over in the
barnyard of Farmer Brown. Then she had heard the "yap" of Reddy Fox
cut short in the middle and the roar of Bowser's big voice as he
started to chase Reddy Fox. She knew that Reddy could run fast, but
she also knew that Bowser the Hound had a wonderful nose, and that
Bowser would never give up. So Mother Fox pattered down the Crooked
Little Path onto the White Meadows, where she could see the chase.
When she got near enough, she barked twice to tell Reddy that she would
help him.

Now Reddy Fox was so tired that he was almost in despair when he heard
Mother Fox bark. But he knew that Mother Fox was so wise, and she had
so often fooled Bowser the Hound, that if he could hold out just a
little longer she would help him. So for a few minutes he ran faster
than ever and he gained a long way on Bowser the Hound. As he passed a
shock of corn that had been left standing on the White Meadows, Mother
Fox stepped out from behind it. "Go home, Reddy Fox," said she,
sharply, "go home and stay there until I come." Then she deliberately
sat down in front of the shock of corn to wait until Bowser the Hound
should come in sight.

Now Bowser the Hound kept his eyes and nose on the track of Reddy Fox,
looking up only once in a while to see where he was going, so he did
not see Reddy Fox slip behind the corn shock, and when he did look up,
he saw only Mother Fox sitting there waiting for him.

Now Bowser the Hound thinks slowly. When he saw old Mother Fox sitting
there, he did not stop to think that it was not Reddy Fox whom he had
been following, or he would have known better than to waste his time
following old Mother Fox. He would have just hunted around until he
had found where Reddy had gone to. But Bowser the Hound thinks slowly.
When he saw old Mother Fox sitting there, he thought it was Reddy Fox
and that now he had him.

With a great roar of his big voice, he sprang forward. Mother Fox
waited until he was almost upon her, then springing to one side, she
trotted off a little way. At once Bowser the Hound started after her.
She pretended to be very tired. Every time he rushed forward she
managed to just slip out of his grasp