were talking over plans for the future, and shrewd old Granny was
pointing out to Reddy how necessary it was that they should keep
away from that henyard for some time. We've had a good dinner, a
splendid dinner, and if we are smart enough we may be able to get
more good dinners where this one came from," said she. "But we
certainly won't if we are too greedy."

"But I don't believe Farmer Brown's boy has missed those two chickens,
and I don't see any reason at all why we shouldn't go back there
to-night and get two more if he is stupid enough to leave that gate
and little door open," whined Reddy.

"Maybe he hasn't missed those two, but if we should take two more he
certainly would miss them, and he would guess what had become of
them, and that might get us into no end of trouble," snapped Granny.
"We are not starving now, and the best thing for us to do is to keep
away from that henhouse until we can't get anything to eat anywhere
else, Now you mind what I tell you, Reddy, and don't you dare go
near there."

Reddy promised, and so it came about that Farmer Brown's boy hunted
up a trap all for nothing so far as Reddy and Granny were concerned.
Very carefully he bound strips of cloth around the jaws of the trap,
for he couldn't bear to think of those cruel jaws cutting into the
leg of Reddy, should he happen to get caught. You see, Farmer
Brown's boy didn't intend to kill Reddy if he should catch him, but
to make him a prisoner for a while and so keep him out of mischief.
That night he hid the trap very cunningly just inside the henhouse
where any one creeping through that little hole made for the hens to
go in and out would be sure to step in it. Then he purposely left