Tommy Fox hardly breathed. He didn't see how the old gentleman could
help spying him. But he didn't. And then Mr. Woodchuck started off
across the pasture, to find something for breakfast. He was very
hungry, for he hadn't had any supper the night before.

Tommy Fox waited until Mr. Woodchuck had gone just a few steps away
from his doorway. And then Tommy stole after him. This time Tommy was
between Mr. Woodchuck and his house. And Mr. Woodchuck couldn't
escape.

It was all over in a second. And Tommy Fox felt very proud of himself
when he reached home and showed his mother what he had brought.

"I can hunt--can't I, Mother?" he said. "To-morrow I'm going up on the
mountain and catch a bear."

"Don't be silly," Mrs. Fox said. "You know you couldn't catch a bear."
But she was much pleased, in spite of what she said. For she saw that
Tommy was really beginning to learn something.




IX

TOMMY FOX IN TROUBLE


A few days after Tommy Fox caught old Mr. Woodchuck, something
happened that set him thinking. Perhaps I should say _"a few nights"_