ox trotting along with his sharp nose to the
ground, smelling the trail where that cow's head had been dragged.

Well, sir, Brushtail went right up to the thicket where the noose was.
Then he laughed and laughed and laughed.

"Well, well, well!" said Brushtail. "I guess I'm just a little too
smart for anybody around these woods. Ha! ha! ha! It's just as I
thought. That silly old fat possum or somebody has been foolish enough
to walk right in among those traps that Farmer Roe set and drag that
head up here. Well, I'll just go on into this thicket and bring that
head out and take charge of it myself. There's enough meat to last me
several days." And Brushtail started into the thicket.

WHAT HAPPENED TO BRUSHTAIL THE FOX

When Brushtail the Fox started into the thicket to get the cow's head
he never dreamed, of course, that there was anything there to catch
him. So he plunged right into the thicket. _Swish!_ Up went that tall,
slim hickory tree, and Brushtail with it! You never heard such a yell
as Brushtail gave. He yelled so loudly that all the little creatures
of the Big Green Woods were awakened, and Doctor Rabbit did not have
to call them. They all came running toward the place where the snare
had been set.

Even Jack Rabbit, away out in the Wide Prairie, heard Brushtail yell,
and here came Jack Rabbit running as fast as he could.

In a little time all the little creatures of the Big Green Woods were
there. Now, you see, Brushtail had put his front legs through that
noose, so that it held him around the body just behind his fore legs.
The rope did not hurt him much, although it pulled considerably. So he
dangled up there and howled, while all the little creatures below
shouted and danced for joy.

Of course, when Brushtail saw all the little creatures come so
quickly, he knew a trick had been played upon him, but he was too
badly scared to be angry. I should say he was! He was about scared out
of his wits when that tree jerked him up into the air, and he was
about as badly scared now as ever, because he could not see how he was
ever going to get down from there.

"Let me down! Let me down! Let me down!" Brushtail shouted, clawing
wildly at the air.

"Oh yes!" said Doctor Rabbit. "I suppose we'll let you down, foxy
Brushy. I suppose we know what you would do to us mighty quick if you
caught us. Yes, it's likely we'll let you down. Ha! ha! ha!" And
Doctor Rabbit and all his friends danced around under