By wading in he could get it.

Reddy shivered at the touch of the cold water, but what were wet feet
compared with such an empty stomach as his? In a minute he had that
fish and was back on the shore. It wasn't a very big fish, but it
would stop the ache in his stomach until he could get something more.
With a sigh of pure happiness he sank his teeth into it and then --
well, then he remembered poor Old Granny Fox. Reddy swallowed a
mouthful and tried to forget Granny. But he couldn't. He swallowed
another mouthful. Poor old Granny was back there at home as hungry as
he was and too stiff and tired to hunt. Reddy choked. Then he began
a battle with himself. His stomach demanded that fish. If he ate it,
no one would be the wiser. But Granny needed it even more than he did.
For a long time Reddy fought with himself. In the end he picked
up the fish and started for home.



CHAPTER XVI: Reddy Is Made Truly Happy

It's what you do for others,
Not what they do for you,
That makes you feel so happy
All through and through and through.
- Old Granny Fox.

Reddy Fox ran all the way home from the Big River just as fast as he
could go. In his mouth he carried the fish he had found and from
which he had taken just two bites. You remember he had had a battle
with himself over that fish, and now he was running away from himself.