第 9 节
作者:怀疑一切      更新:2021-02-18 22:48      字数:9321
  a tremendous noise。 At last he had found where Granny Fox lived; at least
  he   thought   he   had。   He   was   sure   that   she   was   inside;   for   there   were   her
  fresh tracks going inside and none coming out。 Bowser the Hound never
  once thought of looking for a back door。 If he had; he wouldn't have been
  any   the   wiser;   because;   you   know;   old   Granny   Fox   had   slipped   away
  through the hollow tree trunk。
  Granny   Fox   grinned   as   she   listened   to   the   terrible   fuss   Bowser   was
  making。 Then; when she had rested a little; she stole up on the hill where
  she could look down and see the entrance to the old deserted house。 She
  watched Bowser digging and barking。After a while a worried look crept
  into the face of old Granny Fox。
  〃Where's      Farmer    Brown's    boy?    I  thought   surely   he   would    follow
  Bowser the Hound;〃 she muttered。
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  THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
  XXI。 Reddy Fox Disobeys
  When old Granny Fox had sent Reddy Fox into the house and told him
  to stay there until she returned home; he had not wanted to mind; but he
  knew that Granny  Fox meant   just what she said;   and so   he had   crawled
  slowly down the long hall to the bedroom; way underground。
  Pretty soon Reddy Fox heard a voice。 It was very faint; for you know
  Reddy was in his bedroom way underground; but he knew it。 He pricked
  up his ears and listened。 It was the voice of Bowser the Hound; and Reddy
  knew by the sound that Bowser was chasing Granny Fox。
  Reddy   grinned。   He   wasn't   at   all   worried   about   Granny   Fox;   not   the
  least little bit。 He knew how smart she was and that whenever she wanted
  to; she could get rid of Bowser the Hound。 Then a sudden thought popped
  into Reddy's head; and he grew sober。
  〃Granny did feel trouble coming; just as she said;〃 he thought。
  Then Reddy Fox curled himself up and tried to sleep。 He intended to
  mind     and   not  put   his  little  black  nose   outside   until  old   Granny    Fox
  returned。   But   somehow   Reddy   couldn't   get   to   sleep。   His   bedroom   was
  small; and he was so stiff and sore that he could not get comfortable。 He
  twisted     and   turned    and   fidgeted。    The   more     he  fidgeted;    the   more
  uncomfortable he grew。 He thought of the warm sunshine outside and how
  comfortable   he   would   be;   stretched   out   full   length   on   the   doorstep。   It
  would take the soreness out of his legs。 Something must have happened to
  Granny to keep her so  long。 If she had known   that she was going to   be
  gone such a long time; she wouldn't have told him to stay until she came
  back; thought Reddy。
  By   and   by   Reddy   Fox   crept   a   little   way   up   the   long;   dark   hall。   He
  could just see the sunlight on the doorstep。 Pretty soon he went a little bit
  nearer。 He wasn't going to disobey old Granny Fox。 Oh; no! No; indeed!
  She had told him to stay in the house until she returned。 She hadn't said
  that he couldn't look out! Reddy crawled a little nearer to the open door
  and the sunlight。
  〃Granny Fox is getting old and timid。 Just as if my eyes aren't as sharp
  as hers! I'd like to see Farmer Brown's boy get near me when I am really
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  THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
  on the watch;〃 said Reddy Fox to himself。 And then he crept a little nearer
  to the open door。
  How   bright   and   warm   and   pleasant   it   did   look   outside!   Reddy   just
  knew that he would feel ever and ever so much better if he could stretch
  out   on   the   doorstep。   He   could   hear   Jenny  Wren   fussing   and   scolding   at
  someone or something; and he wondered what it could be。 He crept just a
  wee bit nearer。 He could hear Bowser's voice; but it was so faint that he
  had to prick up his sharp little ears and listen with all his might to hear it at
  all。
  〃Granny's   led   them   way   off   on   the   mountain。   Good   old   Granny!〃
  thought   Reddy   Fox。   Then   he   crawled   right   up   to   the   very   doorway。   He
  could still hear Jenny Wren scolding and fussing。
  〃What does ail her?
  〃If   it's   hot   or   if   it's   cold; Jenny   Wren   will   always   scold。 From
  morn till night the whole day long            Her limber tongue is going strong。
  〃I'm going to find out what it means;〃 said Reddy; talking to himself。
  Reddy Fox poked his head out andlooked straight into the freckled
  face of Farmer Brown's boy and the muzzle of that dreadful gun!
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  THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
  XXII。 Ol' Mistah Buzzard's Keen
  Sight
  Old Granny Fox had thought that when she fooled Bowser the Hound
  up in the old pasture on the edge of the mountain she could take her time
  going home。 She was tired and hot; and she had planned to pick out the
  shadiest   paths   going    back。  She   had   thought   that  Farmer   Brown's    boy
  would soon join Bowser the Hound; when Bowser made such a fuss about
  having found the old house into which Granny Fox had run。
  But Farmer Brown's boy had not yet appeared; and Granny Fox was
  getting worried。 Could it be that he had not followed Bowser the Hound;
  after all? Granny Fox went out on a high point and looked; but she could
  see   nothing   of   Farmer   Brown's   boy   and   his   gun。   Just   then   Ol'   Mistah
  Buzzard came sailing down out of the blue; blue sky and settled himself
  on   a   tall;   dead   tree。   Now   Granny   Fox   hadn't   forgotten   how   Ol'   Mistah
  Buzzard had warned Peter Rabbit just as she was about to pounce on him;
  but she suddenly thought that Ol' Mistah Buzzard might be of use to her。
  So old Granny Fox smoothed out her skirts and walked over to the foot
  of the tree where Ol' Mistah Buzzard sat。
  〃How   do   you   do   today;   neighbor   Buzzard?〃   inquired   Granny   Fox;
  smiling up at Ol' Mistah Buzzard。
  〃Ah'm so as to be up and about; thank yo';〃 replied Ol' Mistah Buzzard;
  spreading his wings out so that air could blow under them。
  〃My!〃   exclaimed   old   Granny   Fox;   〃what   splendid   great   wings   you
  have; Mistah Buzzard! It must be grand to be able to fly。 I suppose you
  can   see   a   great   deal   from   way   up   there   in   the   blue;   blue   sky;   Mistah
  Buzzard。〃
  Ol' Mistah Buzzard felt flattered。 〃Yes;〃 said he; 〃Ah can see all that's
  going on on the Green Meadows and in the Green Forest。〃
  〃Oh;   Mistah    Buzzard;    you   don't  really  mean    that!〃  exclaimed    old
  Granny Fox; just as if she wanted to believe it; but couldn't。
  〃Yes; Ah can!〃 replied Ol' Mistah Buzzard。
  〃Really; Mistah Buzzard? Really? Oh; I can't believe that your eyes are
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  THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
  so sharp as all that! Now I know where Bowser the Hound is and where
  Farmer Brown's boy is; but I don't believe you can see them;〃 said Granny
  Fox。
  Ol' Mistah Buzzard never said a word but spread his broad wings and
  in a few minutes he had sailed up; up; up until he looked like just a tiny
  speck to old Granny Fox。 Now old Granny Fox had not told the truth when
  she said she knew where Farmer Brown's boy was。 She thought she would
  trick Ol' Mistah Buzzard into telling her。
  In a few minutes down came Ol' Mistah Buzzard。 〃Bowser the Hound
  is up in the old back pasture;〃 said he。
  〃Right!〃   cried   old   Granny   Fox;   clapping   her   hands。   〃And   where   is
  Farmer Brown's boy?〃
  〃Farmer Brown's boy is。 。 。〃 Ol' Mistah Buzzard paused。
  〃Where?     Where?〃     asked   Granny     Fox;   so  eagerly   that  Ol'  Mistah
  Buzzard looked at her sharply。
  〃Yo' said you knew; so what's the use of telling yo'?〃 said Ol' Mistah
  Buzzard。 Then he added: 〃But if Ah was yo'; Ah cert'nly would get home
  right smart soon。〃
  〃Why? Do; do tell me what you saw; Mistah Buzzard!〃 begged Granny
  Fox。
  But    Ol'   Mistah   Buzzard   wouldn't   say  another   word;   so   old   Granny
  Fox started for home as fast as she could run。
  〃Oh dear; I do hope Reddy Fox minded me and stayed in the house;〃
  she muttered。
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  THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX
  XXII Granny Fox Has a Terrible
  Scare
  Old Granny Fox felt her heart sink way down to her toes; for she felt
  sure Ol'