Reddy Fox Gets A Bath

By Thornton W. Burgess

Reddy Fox turned a somersault down the little knoll where his home is. Then he jumped to his feet, brushed off the leaves and bits of grass clinging to his red coat, and started along the Lone Little Path across the Green Meadows. He had done only a little way when he met Bobby coon. Bobby was headed for the Green Forest and the hollow chestnut tree which is his home.

"Hello, Bobby Coon! Where have you been?" asked Reddy Fox.

"Fishing," replied Bobby.

"Get any?" asked Reddy.

"Lots of 'em," said Bobby, smacking his lips.

Bobby Coon went on, for he was too tired and sleep to talk any more. Reddy watched him out of sight, all the time thinking about those fish. Old Granny Fox had warned him to keep away from the Laughing Brook and the Smiling Pool, but now the more he thought of those fish which Bobby Coon had caught the more it seemed to Reddy that he just must go fishing himself. No one was watching him. Quickly and softly he slipped through the tall meadow grass towards the Smiling Pool.

When he got there Reddy took one more hasty look about to make sure that no one saw him, and then he crept out on an old log and lay down flat where he could look right down into the water. There, almost within reach, he could see Mrs. Trout and Mr. Trout and their big family of little Trouts. Reddy's eyes sparkled and his mouth watered. A little Trout swam up within reach. Like a flash one of Reddy's little black paws shot into the water. But the little Trout merely flirted a few drops of water in Reddy's face and swam away. Then another little Trout did the same thing. They were just teasing Reddy. Yes, Sire, that is just what they were doing.

The more they teased him the more excited Reddy became. He forgot he had been forbidden to visit the Smiling Pool. He forgot that he was on the slippery log. In his excitement he fairly danced up and down. It was this that caught the sharp eyes of Billy Mink. Billy and Little Joe Otter had been fishing that morning and each had a fine string of trout, for they are famous fishermen. Now from their hiding place behind the Big Rick they watched Reddy Fox and laughed until they had to hold their sides. Reddy was getting so excited.

Suddenly an idea popped into the head of Billy Mink. He whispered to Little Joe Otter and both giggled. Then Billy swam to shore and crept through the bulrushes until he reached the end of the log where Reddy Fox was fishing. So quietly that he didn't make so much as the tiniest ripple. Billy Mink slipped into the water and swam along back of the old log. Then, taking a long breath, he dived under it and waited.

The next time Reddy's little black paws came into the water Billy grabbed it and pulled. Of course Reddy lost his balance and turning a half somersault he landed flat on his back in the Smiling Pool. such splashing and floundering and choking and coughing! And such a looking sight as Reddy Fox was as he crawled up the bank! His beautiful coat, of which old Granny Fox had charged him to take the greatest care, was dripping muddy water. Masses of sticky mud clung to his trousers, and the tail which he takes such pride was so heavy with water that he couldn't life it, but had to drag it.

And for all his trouble Reddy Fox hadn't a single fish to show. No, Sir, he hadn't so much as a teeny weeny one. More than that, Reddy was frightened. You see he didn't have the least idea what had pulled him in. So it was a very much frightened Fox who started to slink away through the meadow grass. It was there that he heard something that made him stop and grind his teeth.

"Ha, ha, ha!" That was Little Joe Otter.

"Ho, ho, ho!" That was Billy Mink.

"Hee, hee, hee!" That was Grandfather Frog.

Reddy knew that they had seen and were laughing at him. More than that he began to suspect that theyknew just what has caused his sudden bath.