turned toward home, when a dog bayed somewhere behind them, and pretty
soon Mrs. Fox saw that they were being followed.

She and Tommy started to run. And Tommy saw that there was one more
bad thing about winter. Swift River, and all the little brooks, were
covered with thick ice and there was no chance at all for him and his
mother to run through shallow water and throw the dog off their scent.

It was that strange dog that was chasing them--the one that belonged
to Farmer Green's hired man. He was a very fast runner, and in spite
of the usual tricks that foxes know, Mrs. Fox and Tommy could not lose
him.

Tommy began to be frightened. And old Mrs. Fox herself was somewhat
worried. But she still had a few tricks up her sleeve. She didn't
intend to let that dog catch them if she could help it.

[Illustration with caption: Mrs. Fox and Tommy Started to Run]

"Oh, Mother! whatever shall we do?" Tommy said. "Do you think we can
get away from him?"

"Of course," Mrs. Fox answered. "But you must do just as I tell you.
Now, follow right in my tracks, and don't be frightened, I'm going to
show you a new trick--one that my own mother taught me when I was no
older than you are."

Mrs. Fox turned to the right and started back across the valley. She
was going straight toward Swift River.