“No one will think of looking for us here, for every one knows that no one lives here,” said old Granny Fox, as she made Reddy as comfortable as possible.

As soon as it was daylight, Granny Fox slipped out to watch for Farmer Brown’s boy, for she felt sure that he would come back to the house they had left, and sure enough he did.  He brought a spade and dug the house open, and all the time old Granny Fox was watching him from behind a fence corner and laughing to think that she had been smart enough to move in the night.

But Reddy Fox didn’t know anything about this.  He was so tired that he slept and slept and slept.  It was the middle of the morning when finally he awoke.  He yawned and stretched, and when he stretched he groaned because he was so stiff and sore.  Then he hobbled up toward the doorway to see if old Granny Fox had left any breakfast outside for him.

It was dark, very dark.  Reddy was puzzled.  Could it be that he had gotten up before daylight —­ that he hadn’t slept as long as he thought?  Perhaps he had slept the whole day through, and it was night again.  My, how hungry he was!

“I hope Granny has caught a fine, fat chicken for me,” thought Reddy, and his mouth watered.

Just then he ran bump into something.  “Wow!” screamed Reddy Fox, and clapped both hands to his nose.  Something was sticking into it.  It was one of the sharp little spears that Prickly Porky hides in his coat.  Reddy Fox knew then why the old house was so dark.  Prickly Porky was blocking up the doorway.

CHAPTER XXVIII:  Prickly Porky Enjoys Himself

   A boasting tongue, as sure as fate,
   Will trip its owner soon or late.
      — Old Granny Fox.

Prickly Porky the Porcupine was enjoying himself.  There was no doubt about that.  He was stretched across the doorway of that old house, the very house in which old Granny Fox had been born.  When he had lain down on the doorstep for a nap and sun-bath, he had thought that the old house was still deserted.  Then he had fallen asleep, only to be wakened by Reddy Fox, who bad been asleep in the old house and who couldn’t get out because Prickly Porky was in the way.

Now Prickly Porky does not love Reddy Fox, and the more Reddy begged and scolded and called him names, the more Prickly Porky chuckled.  It was such a good joke to think that he had trapped Reddy Fox, and he made up his mind that he would keep Reddy in there a long time just to tease him and make him uncomfortable.  You see Prickly Porky remembered how often Reddy Fox played mean tricks on little meadow and forest folks who are smaller and weaker than himself.

“It will do him good.  It certainly will do him good,” said Prickly Porky, and rattled the thousand little spears hidden in his long coat, for he knew that the very sound of them would make Reddy Fox shiver with fright.