“What, I catch a fox?” he barked angrily.  “Who are you that makes fun of me?  You just come within my reach and I’ll teach you not to fool with me!”

“You needn’t think that I’m afraid to come near you!” said the boy, running up to the dog.

When the dog saw him he was so astonished that he could not speak.

“I’m the one they call Thumbietot, who travels with the wild geese,” said the boy, introducing himself.  “Haven’t you heard of me?”

“I believe the sparrows have twittered a little about you,” the dog returned.  “They say that you have done wonderful things for one of your size.”

“I’ve been rather lucky up to the present,” admitted the boy.  “But now it’s all up with me unless you help me!  There’s a fox at my heels.  He’s lying in wait for me around the corner.”

“Don’t you suppose I can smell him?” retorted the dog.  “But we’ll soon be rid of him!” With that the dog sprang as far as the chain would allow, barking and growling for ever so long.  “Now I don’t think he will show his face again to-night!” said the dog.

“It will take something besides a fine bark to scare that fox!” the boy remarked.  “He’ll soon be here again, and that is precisely what I wish, for I have set my heart on your catching him.”

“Are you poking fun at me now?” asked the dog.

“Only come with me into your kennel, and I’ll tell you what to do.”

The boy and the watch-dog crept into the kennel and crouched there, whispering.

By and by the fox stuck his nose out from his hiding place.  When all was quiet he crept along cautiously.  He scented the boy all the way to the kennel, but halted at a safe distance and sat down to think of some way to coax him out.

Suddenly the watch-dog poked his head out and growled at him: 

“Go away, or I’ll catch you!”

“I’ll sit here as long as I please for all of you!” defied the fox.

“Go away!” repeated the dog threateningly, “or there will be no more hunting for you after to-night.”

But the fox only grinned and did not move an inch.

“I know how far your chain can reach,” he said.

“I have warned you twice,” said the dog, coming out from his kennel.  “Now blame yourself!”

With that the dog sprang at the fox and caught him without the least effort, for he was loose.  The boy had unbuckled his collar.

There was a hot struggle, but it was soon over.  The dog was the victor.  The fox lay on the ground and dared not move.

“Don’t stir or I’ll kill you!” snarled the dog.  Then he took the fox by the scruff of the neck and dragged him to the kennel.  There the boy was ready with the chain.  He placed the dog collar around the neck of the fox, tightening it so that he was securely chained.  During all this the fox had to lie still, for he was afraid to move.

“Now, Smirre Fox, I hope you’ll make a good watch-dog,” laughed the boy when he had finished.