At first that sound was very, very faint, but as Farmer Brown’s boy listened, it grew louder and clearer.  Suddenly Farmer Brown’s boy leaped up excitedly.  “That’s Bowser!” he cried.  “As sure as I live that’s good old Bowser!  I would know that voice among a million!”

He leaped from the sleigh and tied the horse.  Then he climbed over the fence and began to run across the snow-covered fields.  He could tell from the sound in what direction Bowser was running.  He could tell from the appearance of the country about where Reddy Fox would be likely to lead Bowser, and he ran for a place which he felt sure Reddy would be likely to pass.

Louder and louder sounded the great voice of Bowser, and faster and faster ran Farmer Brown’s boy to reach that place before Bowser should pass.  The louder that great voice sounded, the more absolutely certain Farmer Brown’s boy became that it was the voice of Bowser, and a great joy filled his heart.  At last he reached an old road.  He felt certain that Reddy would follow that road.  So he hid behind an old stone wall on the edge of it.

He did not have long to wait.  A red form appeared around a turn in the old road, running swiftly.  Then it stopped and stood perfectly still.  Of course it was Reddy Fox.  He was listening to make sure just how far behind him Bowser was.  He listened for only a moment and then started on as swiftly as before.  Right down the road past Farmer Brown’s boy Reddy ran, and never once suspected he was being watched.

A few minutes later another form appeared around the turn in the road.  It was Bowser!  Yes, Sir, it was Bowser!  With a glad cry Farmer Brown’s boy jumped over the stone wall and waited.

CHAPTER XXXVIII

REDDY GOES BACK FOR HIS FAT HEN

    Joy will make a puppy of an old dog.

    Bowser the Hound.

When Bowser the Hound is following the trail of Reddy Fox, it takes a great deal to make him leave that trail.  His love of the hunt is so great that, as a rule, nothing short of losing the trail will make him stop.  He will follow it until he cannot follow it any longer.

But for once Bowser actually forgot that he was following Reddy Fox.  Yes, Sir, he did.  As he came down that old road with his nose in Reddy’s tracks, he was so intent on what he was doing that he didn’t see Farmer Brown’s boy waiting for him.  He didn’t see him until he almost ran into him.

For just a second Bowser stared in utter surprise.  Then with a little yelp of pure joy he leaped up and did his best to lick his master’s face.  Could you have seen Bowser, you might have thought that he was just a foolish young puppy, he cut up such wild antics to express his joy.  He yelped and whined and barked.  He nearly knocked Farmer Brown’s boy down by leaping up on him.  He raced around in circles.  When at last he was still long enough, Farmer Brown’s boy just threw his arms around him and hugged him.  He hugged him so hard he made Bowser squeal.  Then two of the happiest folks in all the Great World started back across the snow-covered fields to the sleigh.