The Washington herald., 1906-12-09
Story of Robber Fox.

Right back IN the month of May, many
months ago now, Robber Fox woke up
one evening with a bad temper and a
good appetite; and as for his appetite
well. when he had taken a short stroll
in the cool evening breeze. that only got
worse.
Thousands of white-taiIed rabbits were
happily shifting the cool air and chasing
each other in and out Of their holes, and
on them Robber Fox fixed his bright,
hungry eyes as ne Crept stealthily for
ward under the thick bushes.
little way ahead not more than a
dozen yards. there were five fat young
rabbits having no end of a game. They
were leaping this way and that way.
zone of them viii leap my way pres
entity" thought Reynard, ''and then
I'll"
But he had not waited long when an
old rabbit. which was keeping watch on
the top of a molehin, spied his cruel.
glittering eyes. He gave sharp warn
ing cry. and in a moment hundreds and
hundreds OF white tails were disappear
ing down as many deep. dark holes.
Oh, dear how that old thief Of a fox
did gnash his teeth And how his fur
bristled up on his back. and how his eyes
shone with rage!
II the young bunnies had seen him. not
one of them would have been able TO
sleep that night, I'm sure.
Never mind. cried RObber Fox, al
most choking with anger. III have rab-
bit for supper yet"
He thrust his head into hole several
sizes too small for his body to follow,
and noticed in what direction the bur
row ran.
After following this overhead for a few
steps with his keen nose 10 the ground,
he AT last caught the scent of his prey
undefneath. and he was SO clever that,
bit by bit. he traced this out to the end.
Then Robber Fox began to dig down
down, down into the soft red-sand soil
with his strong paws. And the earth flew
this way and that way. and every mo-
ment the hole grew deeper.
He meant TO break through the ceiling
of the bunnies' burrow and then-well,
then he would have rabbit for supper
After digging and scraping for some
time. Reynard found that he had made a
passage quite six feet deep and now he
could hear the bunnies moving about a
few inches below him and talking.
Father Brown Rabbit was scoiding lit
tie Jack Rabbit for not watching out
for Robber Fox.
But I was having such a fine game. -
said Jacky. that 1 wasn't thinking Of
foxes
But you should think of foxes, Jack, -
said Mr. Brown Rabbit rather sterHfy,
when foxes are thinking of you. If
hadn't been thinking of foxes, where
would you be nOw2"
AS there was really nothing particular
to do for the bunnies dared not leave
their holes now that RObber Fox was
prOwling about, Mr.. and Mrs Rabbit
crept away 20 their best bedroom right
at the far-end of the burTow, where lay
two tiny little bunnies
Aren't they just dears?" said Mrs.
Rabbit, cuddling down beside them.
But Mr.. Rabbit, with his nose in the
air. was gazing hard at the ceiling.
They're sound asleep, whispered Mrs.
Rabbit "Oh, what soft little things they
are! And such tiny ears and eyes. and
such moist little nosesi And did you
ever see such ridiculously tiny tails. or
such"
Hush! Hush. my dear,'' said Mr.. Rab-
bit, who was still looking toward the
roof, with his ears standing right W
straight and twitching nervously.
DO you hear anything?" he asked.
Mrs Rabbit listened. and presently her
two eyes grew so bright with fear that
it's a wonder they didn't light up the
dark burrow like a pair of candles
'Oh it's Robber FOx-cruel RobbeI
Fox! And he's digging down to steal Om
two little new bunnies, He'll be through
the roof presently and then"
do be quiet, my dear" whispered Mr.
Rabbit hastily. IF he hears you ht
viii come all the quicker. Now be brave
and We'll save them yet You take one
and I'll take the other. and we will rur
TO old Bunny Gray Tails burrow Hell
put US up for the night You go in front
Jacky, Oh, quicki quick! quick He:
coming through the ceiling!!MT'
They were just in time, and that's all
Robber Fox's paw came through the roo1
just as Mrs. Rabbit left the room with
her young one.
They safely reached old Bunny GRAY
Tails buTTOw, who was their own par
ucular friend He gave them a capita
turnip for their supper. and made then
welcome until they could dig a fresh bur
ROW.. l. Chinneck.