Pretty soon Johnnie Green returned to the farm-house; and when he came
back Mrs. Fox could see that he carried a steel trap. For a short time
Johnnie and his father busied themselves at her doorway. And then they
went away, calling old dog Spot after them.

After they had gone, Mrs. Fox stole sadly across the field to the home
she had liked so well. She knew that she could live there no longer in
peace and quiet. Yes--she would have to move. And now the first thing
to be done was to get Tommy safely out of the house.

Mrs. Fox reached her door-yard. And there she paused. There was no
trap to be seen, anywhere. But the path leading to her door was
sprinkled thick with fresh earth; and wise old Mrs. Fox knew that
hidden underneath it, somewhere, lay that cruel trap, with its jaws
wide open, waiting to catch her if she stepped between them.

She crept as close to her door as she dared, and called softly to
Tommy. I don't need to say that her son was delighted to hear his
mother's voice. He poked his nose out of the hole at once. And he
would have jumped out and fallen right into the trap if his mother had
not warned him.

"Don't come out!" she cried sharply, "There's a trap here, beneath
this dirt. Now, do just as I tell you, or you'll be caught!"

Tommy Fox was frightened. For once, at least, he believed, that his
mother knew more than he did. And he didn't dare move, except when she
ordered. He didn't dare put a foot down except where she told him to.

Tommy had taken several careful steps, and his mother had begun to