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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 had been so put out by the scare she had had and
by her failure to catch Peter Rabbit that she had forgotten all about the
chicken she had left up on the hill。 When Reddy spoke； she remembered it；
and the thought of having to go way back after it didn't improve her
temper a bit。
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
〃No！〃 she snapped。 〃I haven't！You don't deserve any breakfast
anyway。 If you had any gumption〃that's the word Granny Fox used；
gumption〃if you had any gumption at all； you wouldn't have gotten in
trouble； and could get your own breakfast。〃
Reddy Fox didn't know what gumption meant； but he did know that he
was very； very hungry； and do what he would； he couldn't keep back a
couple of big tears of disappointment。 Granny Fox saw them。
〃There； there； Reddy！ Don't cry。 I've got a fine fat chicken for you up
on the hill； and I'll run back and get it；〃 said Granny Fox。
So off she started up the hill to the place where she had left the
chicken when she started to try to catch Peter Rabbit。 When she got there；
there wasn't any chicken。 No； Sir； there was no chicken at alljust a few
feathers。 Granny Fox could hardly believe her own eyes。 She looked this
way and she looked that way； but there was no chicken； just a few feathers。
Old Granny Fox flew into a greater rage than before。
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
XIII。 Granny Fox Calls Jimmy
Skunk Names
Granny Fox couldn't believe her own eyes。 No； Sir； she couldn't
believe her own eyes； and she rubbed them two or three times to make
sure that she was seeing right。 That chicken certainly had disappeared； and
left no trace of where it had gone。
It was very queer。 Old Granny Fox sat down to think who would dare
steal anything from her。 Then she walked in a big circle with her nose to
the ground； sniffing and sniffing。 What was she doing that for？ Why； to
see if she could find the tracks of anyone who might have stolen her
chicken。
〃Aha！〃 exclaimed old Granny Fox； starting to run along the top of the
hill； her nose to the ground。 〃Aha！ I'll catch him this time！〃
In a few minutes she began to run more slowly； and every two or three
steps she would look ahead。 Suddenly her eyes snapped； and she began to
creep almost flat on her stomach； just as she had crept for Peter Rabbit。
But it wasn't Peter Rabbit this time。 It waswho do you think？ Jimmy
Skunk！ Yes； Sir； it was Jimmy Skunk。 He was slowly ambling along； for
Jimmy Skunk never hurries。 Every big stick or stone that he could move；
he would pull over or look under； for Jimmy Skunk was hunting for
beetles。
Old Granny Fox watched him。 〃He must have a tremendous appetite to
be hunting for beetles after eating my chicken！〃 muttered she。 Then she
jumped out in front of Jimmy Skunk； her eyes snapping； her teeth showing；
and the hair on her back standing on end so as to make her look very fierce。
But all the time old Granny Fox took the greatest care not to get too near
to Jimmy Skunk。
〃Where's my chicken？〃 snarled old Granny Fox； and she looked very；
very fierce。
Jimmy Skunk looked up as if very much surprised。 〃Hello； Granny
Fox！〃 he exclaimed。 〃Have you lost a chicken？〃
〃You've stolen it！ You're a thief； Jimmy Skunk！〃 snapped Granny Fox。
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
〃Words can never make black white； Before you speak be sure you're
right；〃
said Jimmy Skunk。 〃I'm not a thief。〃
〃You are！〃 cried Granny working herself into a great rage。
〃I'm not！〃
〃You are！〃
All the time Jimmy Skunk was chuckling to himself； and the more he
chuckled the angrier grew old Granny Fox。 And all the time Jimmy Skunk
kept moving toward old Granny Fox and Granny Fox kept backing away；
for； like all the other little meadow and forest people； she has very great
respect for Jimmy Skunk's little bag of scent。
Now； backing off that way； she couldn't see where she was going； and
the first thing she knew she had backed into a bramble bush。 It tore her
skirts and scratched her legs。 〃Ooch！〃 cried old Granny Fox。
〃Ha！ ha！ ha！〃 laughed Jimmy Skunk。 〃That's what you get for calling
me names。
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THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
XIV。 Granny Fox Finds What
Became of the Chicken
Old Granny Fox was in a terrible temper。 Dear； dear； it certainly was a
dreadful temper！ Jimmy Skunk laughed at her； and that made it worse。
When he saw this； Jimmy Skunk just rolled over and over on the ground
and shouted； he was so tickled。 Of course； it wasn't the least bit nice of
Jimmy Skunk； but you know that Granny Fox had been calling Jimmy a
thief。 Then Jimmy doesn't like Granny Fox anyway； nor do any of the
other little meadow and forest people； for most of them are very much
afraid of her。
When old Granny Fox finally got out of the bramble bush； she didn't
stop to say anything more to Jimmy Skunk； but hurried away； muttering
and grumbling and grinding her teeth。 Old Granny Fox wasn't plea