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and grumbling and grinding her teeth。 Old Granny Fox wasn't pleasant to
meet just then； and when Bobby Coon saw her coming； he just thought it
best to get out of her way； so he climbed a tree。
It wasn't that Bobby Coon was afraid of old Granny Fox。 Bless you； no！
Bobby Coon isn't a bit afraid of her。 It was because he had a full stomach
and was feeling too good…natured and lazy to quarrel。
〃Good morning； Granny Fox。 I hope you are feeling well this
morning；〃 said Bobby Coon； as old Granny Fox came trotting under the
tree he was sitting in。 Granny Fox looked up and glared at him with
yellow eyes。
〃It isn't a good morning and I'm not feeling fine！〃 she snapped。
〃My goodness； how you have torn your skirts！〃 exclaimed Bobby
Coon。
Old Granny Fox started to say something unpleasant。 Then she
changed her mind and instead she sat down and told Bobby Coon all her
troubles。 As she talked； Bobby Coon kept ducking his head behind a
branch of the tree to hide a smile。 Finally Granny Fox noticed it。
〃What do you keep ducking your head for； Bobby Coon？〃 she asked
suspiciously。
〃I'm just looking to see if I can see any feathers from that chicken；〃
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replied Bobby Coon gravely； though his eyes were twinkling with
mischief。
〃Well； do you？〃 demanded old Granny Fox。
And just then Bobby Coon did。 They were not on the ground； however；
but floating in the air。 Bobby Coon leaned out to see where they came
from； and Granny Fox turned to look； too。 What do you think they saw？
Why； sitting on a tall； dead tree was Mr。 Goshawk； just then swallowing
the last of Granny's chicken。
〃Thief！ thief！ robber！ robber！〃 shrieked old Granny Fox。
But Mr。 Goshawk said nothing； just winked at Bobby Coon； puffed out
his feathers； and settled himself for a comfortable nap。
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XV。 Reddy Fox Has a Visitor
Hardly was old Granny Fox out of sight on her way to hunt for the
chicken she had left on the hill； when Unc' Billy Possum came strolling
along the Lone Little Path。 He was humming to himself； for he had just
had a good breakfast。 One of the Merry Little Breezes spied him and
hurried to meet him and tell him about how Reddy Fox had been shot。
Unc' Billy listened； and the grin with which he had greeted the Merry
Little Breeze grew into a broad smile。
〃Are yo' all sure about that？〃 he asked。
The Merry Little Breeze was sure。
Unc' Billy Possum stopped for a few minutes and considered。
〃Serves that no 'count Reddy Fox right；〃 chuckled Unc' Billy。 〃He
done spoil mah hunting at Farmer Brown's； he raised such a fuss among
the hens up there。 'Tisn't safe to go there any mo'！ No； Suh； 'tisn't safe； and
it won't be safe for a right smart while。 Did yo' say that Granny Fox is
home？〃
The Merry Little Breeze hadn't said anything about Granny Fox； but
now remembered that she had gone up the hill。
〃Ah believe Ah will just tote my sympathy over to Reddy Fox；〃 said
Unc' Billy Possum； as he started in the direction of Reddy Fox's house。
But he made sure that old Granny Fox was not at home before he showed
himself。 Reddy Fox lay on his doorstep。 He was sick and sore and stiff。
Indeed； he was so stiff he couldn't walk at all。 And he was weakweak and
hungry； dreadfully hungry。 When he heard footsteps； he thought old
Granny Fox was bringing him the chicken after which she had gone。 He
felt too ill even to turn his head。
〃Did you get the chicken； Granny？〃 he asked weakly。 No one
answered。 〃I say； did you get the chicken； Granny？〃 Reddy's voice
sounded a little sharp and cross as he asked this time。
Still there was no reply； and Reddy began to be a little bit suspicious。
He turned over and raised his head to look。 Instead of old Granny Fox；
there was Unc' Billy Possum grinning at him。
〃Smarty； Smarty is a thief！ Smarty； Smarty came to grief！ Tried to
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show off just for fun And ran too near a loaded gun。
〃Yo' all certainly has got just what yo' deserve； and Ah'm glad of it！
Ah'm glad of it； Suh！〃 said Unc' Billy Possum severely。
An angry light came into the eyes of Reddy Fox and made them an
ugly yellow for just a minute。 But he felt too sick to quarrel。 Unc' Billy
Possum saw this。 He saw how Reddy was really suffering； and down deep
in his heart Unc' Billy was truly sorry for him。 But he didn't let Reddy
know it。 No； indeed！ He just pretended to be tickled to death to see Reddy
Fox so helpless。 He didn't dare stay long； for fear Granny Fox would
return。 So； after saying a few more things to make Reddy feel
uncomfortable； Unc' Billy started off up the Lone Little Path toward the
Green Forest。
〃Too bad！ Too bad！〃 he muttered to himself。 〃If ol' Granny Fox isn't
smart enough to get Reddy enough to eat； Ah'll have to see what we…alls
can do。 Ah cert'nly will。〃
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
XVI。 Unc' Billy Possum Visits the
Smiling Pool
Joe Otter and Billy Mink were sitting on the Big Rock in the Smiling
Pool。 Because they had nothing else to do； they were planning mischief。
Jerry Muskrat was busy filling his new house with food for the winter。 He
was too busy to get into mischief。
Suddenly Billy Mink put a finger on his lips as a warning to Little Joe
Otter to keep perfectly still。 Billy's sharp eyes had seen something moving
over in the bulrushes。 Together he and Little Joe Otter watched； ready to
dive into the Smiling Pool at the first sign of danger。 In a few minutes the
rushes parted and a sharp little old face peered out。 Little Joe Otter and
Billy Mink each sighed with relief； and their eyes began to dance。 〃Hi；
Unc' Billy Possum！〃 shouted Billy Mink。
A grin crept over the sharp little old face peering out from the
bulrushes。
〃Hi； yo'self！〃 he shouted； for it really was Unc' Billy Possum。
〃What are you doing over here？〃 called Little Joe Otter。
〃Just a…looking round；〃 replied Unc' Billy Possum； his eyes twinkling。
〃Have you heard about Reddy Fox？〃 shouted Billy Mink。
〃Ah done jes' come from his home；〃 replied Unc' Billy Possum。
〃How is he？〃 asked Little Joe Otter。
〃Po'ly； he sho'ly is po'ly；〃 replied Unc' Billy Possum； shaking his head
soberly。 Then Unc' Billy told Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter how Reddy
Fox was so stiff and sore and sick that he couldn't get anything to eat for
himself； and how old Granny Fox had lost a chicken which she had caught
for him。
〃Serves him right！〃 exclaimed Billy Mink； who has never forgotten
how Reddy Fox fooled him and caught the most fish once upon a time。
Unc' Billy nodded his head。 〃Yo' are right。 Yo' cert'nly are right。 Yes；
Suh； Ah reckons yo' are right。 Was yo' ever hungry； Billy Minkreal
hungry？〃 asked Unc'