TommyFoxcouldthinkofnothingbutMr.Woodchuck. Hethoughttherecouldbenouseingoingbacktotheholebeneaththebigoakinthepastureuntilthenextday,becauseMr.WoodchuckwouldprobablybeafraidthatTommywaswaitingforhimtocomeout. Yes—TommydecidedthatMr.Woodchuckwouldstayinhishousedownamongtherootsofthebigtreeandnotshowhimselfagainuntilhefeltquitesurethathisenemyhadgrowntiredofwatchingandhadgivenuptheideaofcatchinghim. ButTommyguessedthatbyanotherdayoldMr.Woodchuckwouldbesohungrythathewouldhavetogooutofdoorsagaintogetsomethingtoeat. AndTommyFoxcouldhardlywaitforthenighttopass. Butanotherdaycameatlast;anditfoundTommyupandhurryingtoFarmerGreen’sback-pasture,whereMr.Woodchucklived. Itwasjustgrowinglight;andtherewasaheavydewuponthegrass,whichTommydidn’tlikeatall,becausehejusthatedtogethisfeetwet. TommydidnotgonearMr.Woodchuck’shole. Althoughhewasjustayoungfox,hewastoowisetodothat. HeknewthatifhewentnosingaroundMr.Woodchuck’sdooryardtheoldgentlemanwouldsmellhistracksassoonashepokedhisheadout. SoTommywascarefultokeepawayfromtheholewherehehaddugsohardthedaybefore. HesneakedarounduntilhehadpassedMr.Woodchuck’shouse;andthenhecreptupbehindthebigoakcloseby.Andtherehewaited. Tommykeptsmiling.Hewassopleased,becausehisplanwasworkingoutverywell. Thewindblewtowardshim,andTommysawthatMr.Woodchuckwouldn’tbeabletosmellhimwhentheoldfellowcameupintotheopenair. ForalongtimeTommywaitedthere.Hekeptverystill. Andhestayedhiddenbehindthetree,withonlyoneeyepeepingroundthetree-trunk,sothathecouldwatchforMr.Woodchuck.Hewasverypatient—wasTommy. Youhavetobepatient,youknow,whenyouarehunting. Hecrouchedbehindthetreeforatleastanhour,andneveroncetookhiseyeoffthathole. AndatlasthesawMr.Woodchuck’snosecomepoppingout. IfTommyhadn’tbeenwatchingverycloselyhewouldn’thaveseenitatall;forMr.Woodchuckjuststuckhisheadupforasecond,tookonequicklookallaround,andjumpedbackagain. Hehadn’tseenanythingtofrightenhim. Buthethoughtitbesttobeverycareful. Tommywaited.Andprettysoonthatsmallnosecamestickingoutagain.Thistimeitstayedlonger. AndtoTommy’sgreatdelight,inanotherminutehesawMr.Woodchuckclimbupandtakeagoodlookallabout. TommyFoxhardlybreathed.Hedidn’tseehowtheoldgentlemancouldhelpspyinghim.Buthedidn’t. AndthenMr.Woodchuckstartedoffacrossthepasture,tofindsomethingforbreakfast. Hewasveryhungry,forhehadn’thadanysupperthenightbefore. TommyFoxwaiteduntilMr.Woodchuckhadgonejustafewstepsawayfromhisdoorway.AndthenTommystoleafterhim. ThistimeTommywasbetweenMr.Woodchuckandhishouse.AndMr.Woodchuckcouldn’tescape. Itwasalloverinasecond.AndTommyFoxfeltveryproudofhimselfwhenhereachedhomeandshowedhismotherwhathehadbrought. “Icanhunt—can’tI,Mother?”hesaid.“TomorrowI’mgoinguponthemountainandcatchabear.” “Don’tbesilly,”Mrs.Foxsaid.“Youknowyoucouldn’tcatchabear.”Butshewasmuchpleased,inspiteofwhatshesaid.ForshesawthatTommywasreallybeginningtolearnsomething. 
