Part 7 (2/2)

Of course Danny had been terribly frightened when the can rolled, and by the noise the claws of Redtailplace But he wisely decided that the best thing he could do was to stay there for a while And it was very fortunate that he did so, as he was very soon to find out

[Illustration]

XXIII

Reddy Fox Grows Curious

Danny Meadow Mouse had sat perfectly still for a long tie from Redtail the Hawk He didn't dare so much as put his head out for a look around, lest Redtail should be circling overhead ready to pounce on hio away, if he hasn't already,” thought Danny ”This has been a pretty excitingso far, and I find that I a to make sure that the way is clear”

With that Danny curled up in the old tomato can But it wasn't meant that Danny should have that nap He had closed his eyes, but his ears were still open, and presently he heard soft footsteps drawing near His eyes flew open, and he forgot all about sleep, you may be sure, for those footsteps sounded familiar They sounded to Danny very, very much like the footsteps of--whoan to beat faster as he listened Could it be? He didn't dare peep out Presently a little whiff of scent blew into the old tomato can Then Danny knew--it was Reddy Fox

”Oh dear! I hope he doesn't find that I aht Danny ”I wonder what under the sun has brought him up here just now”

If the truth were to be known, it was curiosity that had brought Reddy up there Reddy had been hunting for his breakfast some distance away on the Green Meadohen Redtail the Hawk had tried so hard to catch Danny Meadow Mouse Reddy's sharp eyes had seen Redtail the minute he left the tree in pursuit of Danny, and he had known by the way Redtail flew that he saw so he wanted to catch He had watched Redtail swoop down and had heard his screaed into the old toain at soust with empty claws

”Noonder what it was Redtail was after and why he didn't get it,” thought Reddy ”He acts terribly put out and disappointed

I believe I'll go over there and find out”

Off he started at a srass where he had seen Redtail the Hawk striking at soround As he drew near, he crept very softly until he reached the very edge of the open patch There he stopped and looked sharply all over it There was nothing to be seen but an old tomato can Reddy had seen it many times before

”Nohat under the sun could Redtail have been after here?”

thought Reddy ”The grass isn't long enough for a grasshopper to hide in, and yet Redtail didn't get what he was after It's very queer It certainly is very queer”

He trotted out and began to run back and forth with his nose to the ground, hoping that his nose would tell him what his eyes couldn't Back and forth, back and forth he ran, and then suddenly he stopped

”Ha!” exclaimed Reddy He had found the scent left by Danny Meadow Mouse when he ran across toward the old toht up to the old can Reddy's nose led him He hopped over the old can, but on the other side he could find no scent of Danny Meadow Mouse In a flash he understood, and a gleam of satisfaction shone in his yellow eyes as he turned back to the old can He knew that Danny ot you this ti in the end of the can

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XXIV

Reddy Fox Loses His Teht Danny Meadow Mouse, and yet he hadn't caught hi in the old toet Danny out when he wanted to He was in no hurry He had had a pretty good breakfast of grasshoppers, and so he thought he would tor him up He lay down so that he could peep in at the open end of the old can and see Danny trying to rinned until he showed all his long teeth Reddy always is a bully, especially when his victireat deal sot you this time, Mr Smarty, haven't I?” taunted Reddy

Danny didn't say anything

”You think you've been very clever because you have fooled ot you where your tricks won't work,” continued Reddy, ”so what are you going to do about it?”