TommyFoxwentupintoFarmerGreen’sback-pasture,whichlayevennearerBlueMountainthanthefieldwhereTommyandhismotherlived. Heskulkedalongamongtherockyhummocks,andtheoldstumpswhichdottedthepasturethickly. Hisearsandhiseyesandhisnosewereallalerttodiscoveranysmallanimalthatmightbestirring—especiallyhisnose;forTommycouldsmellthingswhentheywerealongwayoff. Tommy’smotherhadexplainedtohimthathemustalwayshuntwiththewindblowinginhisface;becausethenthebreezebroughttohimthescentofanyanimalthatmightbeinfrontofhim,whetherithappenedtobeananimalthatTommywashunting,orsomeanimalthatwashuntinghim. InthatwayTommywouldbeabletoknowwhatwasaheadofhim,evenifhecouldn’tseeit. Butifhewerecareless,andtrottedalongwiththewindblowingbehindhim—ah!Thatwasquitedifferent. Theotherforest-peoplewouldallknowhewascoming,forthentheywouldbeabletogetTommy’sscent. Andsomeday,ifheweresofoolishastogoaboutwiththewindathisback,somedayhemightstumblerightontoawildcat,oradog,oraman,orsomeotherterriblecreature. Well—Tommyrememberedallthesethingsthathismotherhadtoldhim.Thewindblewfreshinhisface. Andtohisdelightallatoncehesmelledawoodchuck. Therewasnomistakingthatsavorysmell. ItaffectedTommyverypleasantly—muchasyouareaffectedbycatchingawhiffofhotpeanuts,orpopcorn,orcandycookingonthestove. Tommystolealongverycarefully.Andashepeeredaroundastumphesaw,nottenjumpsaheadofhim,afine,fatwoodchuck. Tommycreptupalittlecloser;andthenhesprangforMr.Woodchuckwitharush. PudgyMr.WoodchucksawTommyjustintime. Heturnedtailandranforhislife;andhewassospry,thoughhewasquiteafat,elderlygentleman,thathereachedhisholeandwhiskeddownoutofsightjustasTommywasabouttoseizehim. Tommywasdisappointed.Buthewasdeterminedtogetthatwoodchuck,andhebegantodigawayatMr.Woodchuck’shole. Yousee,Mr.WoodchuckwassmallerthanTommyFox,andsincetheundergroundtunnelthatledtohishomewasonlybigenoughtoadmithim,Tommywasobligedtomakeitlarger. ThoughMr.Woodchuck’sholewasunderashadyoaktree,Tommyfounddiggingtobesomewhatwarmwork,sohetookoffhisneat,redcoatandhungitcarefullyuponabush. Heworkedveryhard,forhewaseagertofindMr.Woodchuck. Infact,thefurtherTommydugintothegroundthemoreexcitedhegrew. Andhehadjustdecidedthathehadalmostreachedtheendofthetunnel,andthatalittlemorediggingwouldbringhiminsideofMr.Woodchuck’shouse,whenhemetwithanunexpectedcheck. ToTommy’sdismay,Mr.Woodchuck’stunnelledbetweentworootsofthebigoak,andTommycouldnotsqueezebetweenthem. Hereachedhispawsthroughthenarrowopeningandcrowdedhisnoseinasfarasitwouldgo.Butthatwasallhecoulddo. Hedidnotdoubtthatsomewhereinbeyond,inthedarkness,Mr.WoodchuckwashavingagoodlaughbecauseTommyhaddoneallthatworkfornothing. IamsorrytosaythatTommyFoxlosthistemper.HecalledafterMr.Woodchuck. Yes—heshoutedsomeratherbadnamesafterhim. Butofcoursethatdidn’tdoabitofgood. AndTommyFoxputonhiscoatandwenthometothinkaboutwhathecoulddo. Hedidn’tcaretoaskhismother’sadvice,becausehedidn’twanthertoknowthatMr.Woodchuckhadgotawayfromhim. Buthehopedtofindsomewayinwhichhecouldcatchtheoldgentleman. 
