Reddy shivered.
"It won't be long now before Farmer Brown's boy comes," thought he.
CHAPTER XVII
FARMER BROWN'S BOY DROPS A PAN OF CORN
Who when surprised keeps calm and cool
Is one most difficult to fool.
_Bowser the Hound._
In his lifetime Reddy Fox has spent many anxious moments, but none more
anxious than those in which he waited for Farmer Brown's boy to open the
henhouse and feed the biddies on this particular morning.
From the moment when the big rooster on the topmost perch stretched
forth his neck, flapped his wings, and crowed as only he can crow, Reddy
was on pins and needles, as the saying is. Hiding behind a box in the
darkest corner of the henhouse, he hardly dared to breathe. You see, he
didn't want those hens to discover him. He knew that if they did they
would make such a racket that they would bring Farmer Brown's boy
hurrying out to find out what the trouble was.
Reddy had had experience with hens before. He knew that if Farmer
Brown's boy heard them making a great racket, he would know that
something was wrong, and he would come all prepared. This was the one
thing that Reddy did not want. His one chance to escape would be to take
Farmer Brown's boy entirely by surprise.
Never had time dragged more slowly. The hens were awake, and several of
them flew down to the floor of the henhouse.
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