WhenTommyFoxdiscoveredoldMotherGrousecrouchedbeneaththeevergreentreehegrewhungrierthanever.AndhedecidedthathewouldcatchMrs.Grouseandeatheronthespot. Tommyhadnevercaughtagrouse.ButhismotherhadbroughthomesomeofoldMotherGrouse’srelationsforhimtoeat;andTommyknewofnothingthattastedanybetter. HethoughtthatoldMotherGrousemustbesleeping,shewassostill. Andhedidnotmeantowakeherifhecouldhelpit—atleast,notuntilhehadcaughther. SoTommyflattenedhimselfoutonhisstomachandbegantocreeptowardsher,veryslowlyandverycarefully.Hedidn’tmaketheslightestnoise. AndsoonhehadstolensoclosetooldMotherGrousethathewasjustabouttospringupandrushuponher. Thenallatoncetherewasthemostterriblenoise. Itwasalmostasloudasthunder,anditseemedtoTommythatthegroundwasrisingrightupinfrontofhim. Hewassostartledthathefelloverbackward. Andhisheartthumpedandpoundedagainsthisribs. ThenextmomentTommyFoxfeltverysheepish,forherealizedthatthenoisewasnothingbutthebeatingofoldMotherGrouse’swingsagainsttheair. Andinsteadofthegroundrising,itwasoldMotherGrouseherselfwhohadjumpedupandsailedaway.Shehadn’tbeenasleep.Shehadseenhimallthetime. AndshehadjustwaiteduntilshesawthatTommywastryingtocatchherbeforesheflewoff. OldMotherGrousedidn’tflyfar.SheperchedinatreejustalittlewayoffandsatthereandlookeddownatTommyFoxandchuckledtoherself.Sheknewthatshewasperfectlysafe. AndthoughTommyFoxtrotteduptothetreewhereshesatandstaredlonginglyupathershewasn’ttheleastbitworried. ForsheknewquitewellthatTommycouldn’tclimbatree. Tommyfeltverypeevish.Hewassohungry! Andhecouldn’thelpthinkinghowgoodoldMotherGrousewouldhavetasted.Hecouldn’treachhernow. Butstillhedidn’tgoalongtowardhome. Hesimplycouldn’tkeephisgreedyeyesofffatoldMotherGrouse! Andhesquatteddownbesideabushandstaredather. OldMotherGrousedidn’tmindthat.ShejuststaredbackatTommyFox;andshedidn’tsayawordtohim,whichsomehowmadeTommystillmorepeevish. HowlongTommywouldhavestayedthereitwouldbehardtotell. Butinalittlewhilesomethinghappenedthatsenthimhomeontherun. IfMrs.GrouseandTommyhadbeenlookingoutassharplyastheygenerallydid,FarmerGreen’sboynevercouldhavecreptupsoclosetothem. ButtheyweresobusystaringateachotherthattheyneversawFarmerGreen’sboyatall. Now,JohnnieGreenhadhisgunwithhim,forhewashuntinggrouse. HedidnotseeTommyFoxatall,becauseTommywashiddenbehindthebush. ButJohnnieGreensawoldMotherGrouse;andalmostassoonashesawherhefired. Theoldshotgunmadeatremendousroar.Thewoodsrangandechoedwiththenoise. AndTommyFoxsawacloudoffeathersfloatdownfromthelimbwhereoldMotherGrousehadbeensitting. ButoldMotherGrouseherselfflewaway. Theshothadknockedoutsomeofhertail-feathers,buthadn’thurtheratall. Itallhappenedveryquickly.AndTommyFoxfelthimselfleapinghighintheair. Hewassofrightenedthathehadjumpedalmostoutofhisskin. Andheranandran,andranfasterthanhehadeverrunbeforeinallhisrathershortlife. JohnnieGreensawhimrun.Buthisgunwasn’tloadednow,andhecouldn’tshoot. Andhedidn’thavehisdogwithhim,either. ItwasluckyforTommyFoxthattherewasnodogthere. ForTommywassoscaredthatheforgotallaboutjumpingsideways,andrunningincircles,ashismotherhadtaughthim. Hejustranstraightforhishomeinthemiddleofthebigfield;andwhenhegottherehescurriedthroughthedoorandscamperedinside;andhenevercameoutagainallthatday. 
