Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-01

cred fallen trees, beneath the edges
of overhanging rocks, in heavy grass
and piled up dead leaves; but in vain.
| Naughtie (who had indeed proved
himself to be very naughty could not
&c found, hair nor hide.
Just as the searching party, led on
by old Singer Fox-who was dressed
in his Sunday best-was about to re-
turn to their village, their ears caught
the sound of voices-human voices.
Then they heard gun-crack! All,
how they we're frightened!
! Hide every fox-young and old!
cried out old Singer Fox And every
fox, young and old, did his bidding.
| Some crept into deep holes in the
earth which were 80 hidden beneath
last years dead branches and leaves
as to be invisible to man. Others
crept beneath loose-edged rocks and
into hollow tree-trunks. And by the
time that the persons whose voices
had been heard in the distance had
drawn near not the tiniest bit OF fox
could be seen anywhere.
Where do you suppose that little
red fox went?' asked man coming
through the thicket, a gun on his
shoulder.
HE ran off this way" replied an
other man who was following the first
speaker. He also carried gun over
his shoulder.
"Pity we haven't the dogs" said
the first speaker.
"Sure, they'd get fox within TWEEN
ty miles of u.s." laughed the second
speaker. Their power Of scent is so
great"
Then the two men passed on
through the woods walking within
three feet of several foxes hidden
there And after they had disappear
ed and their voices could no longer be
heard, poor Mrs. Red Fox crept from
hiding. "They spoke Of a red fox run
ming this way" she said. II fear 1t is
poor Naughtie being pursued. oh, that
disobedient one! He may pay fer his
wrong doing with his life. l know
not which way turn in quest OF
him."
Indeed, the poor mother fox was
at her wits end, and was 80 anxious
that she was nearly ready to faint.
But thought of her wayward son kept
her up and doing.
"The hunters must have sighted him
down by the lark suggested old
Singer Fox, coming to Mrs. Red Fox's
side to advise her. "He ran, they said
in this direction. Now it may be that
he is in safe hiding somewhere here
abouts. Maybe we'd best go right
nome and wait there for him. Should
he return and find the place deserted
he might run away again"
Eyes, you are right, my friend"
acquiesced Mrs. Red Fox. Then the
party of foxes turned about towards
their village which was mile dis
tant. But pretty soon they heard sew.
eral gun cracks in the direction OF
their homes, and apprehension again
took hold of them. What II the hunt
ers had followed Naughtie to his very
home and discovered the habitations
of the foxes? That would mean de-
struction to ALL
Some were in favor of hiding out
for the remainder Of the day, while
the others advised creeping close to
their home and recommending. Mrs.
Red Fox declared that she must go
directly home and see If her unruly
son had returned there-and whether
! or not he had been injured.
It did not take the foxes long to
soon Mrs. Red Fox had crossed the
threshold of her own pretty cottage.
And there she found her son awaiting
,, her. But In what a plight! One paw
"a front one-was swollen to three
times its normal size. and he was
all but exhausted beyond the power
of speech.
J Mrs. Red Fox dismissed her friends,
saying it were better that she be alone
with Naughtie for the present. When
she had the suffering fellow in his own
bed, and his foot dressed she asked
for his story.
when ran off this morning." said
Naughtie, speaking with effort, II
went directly to the lake. had no
place in particular to go, so just ram
bled about. Oh, Mamma, how wicked
|r was" And the suffering Naughtie
began to cry in his pillow. well, l
soon decided it was no fun being by
myself, and thought I'd come home
the best place on earth-and play with
Swiftie and Spottie.
81 was really and truly sorry l had
disobeyed you, Mamma, and meant to
hurry to you and tell you so, and to
promise you that would be naughty
no more. But just as was crossing
that r1dge-where the big rocks are
l heard a strange noise, then very
much stranger one which went pop!
and felt singing in my paw. Then
knew the hunters-that you had told
of this morning-had come, and had
shot my foot
For while l feared would not
be able to walk another step, but fear
of the hunters, who knew would
come after me if stopped. made me
run along on my three good feet,
But oh, the pain!
"Well, hid here and there, resting