“I wish I was at them right now,” interrupted Reddy with a sigh.

“But you know what I have told you,” went on Granny.  “The surest way of getting into trouble is to steal hens.  I’m not feeling quite up to being chased by Bowser the Hound just now, and if we came right home we would give away the secret of where we live and might be smoked out, and that would be the end of us.  Besides, those hens will be hard to get this weather, because they will stay in their house, and there is no way for us to get in there unless we walk right in, in broad daylight, and that would never do.  It will be a great deal better to take Bowser’s dinner away from him.  In the first place, if we are careful, no one but Bowser will know about it, and as long as he is chained up, we will have nothing to worry about from him.  Besides, we will enjoy getting even with him for the times he has spoiled our chances of catching a fat chicken and for the way he has hunted us.  Most decidedly it will be better and safer to try for Bowser’s dinner than to try for one of those hens.”

“Just as you say, Granny; just as you say,” returned Reddy.  “You know best.  But how under the sun we can do it beats me.”

“It is very simple,” replied Granny, “very simple indeed.  Most things are simple enough when you find out how to do them.  Neither of us could do it alone, but together we can do it without the least bit of risk.  Listen.”

Granny went close to Reddy and whispered to him, although there wasn’t a soul within hearing.  A slow grin spread over Reddy’s face as he listened.  When she had finished, he laughed right out.

“Granny, you are a wonder!” he exclaimed admiringly.  “I never should have thought of that.  Of course we can do it.  My, won’t Bowser be surprised!  And how mad he’ll be!  Come on, let’s he starting!”

All right,” said Granny, and the two started towards Farmer Brown’s.

CHAPTER XVIII:  Why Bowser The Hound Didn’t Eat His Dinner

   The thing you’ve puzzled most about
   Is simple once you’ve found it out.
      — Old Granny Fox.

Bowser The Hound dearly loves to hunt just for the pleasure of the chase.  It isn’t so much the desire to kill as it is the pleasure of using that wonderful nose of his and the excitement of trying to catch some one, especially Granny or Reddy Fox.  Farmer Brown’s boy had put away his dreadful gun because he no longer wanted to kill the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows, but rather to make them his friends.  Bowser had missed the exciting hunts he used to enjoy so much with Farmer Brown’s boy.  So Bowser had formed the habit of slipping away alone for a hunt every once in a while.  When Farmer Brown’s boy discovered this, he got a chain and chained Bowser to his little house to keep him from running away and hunting on the sly.