AfewdaysafterTommyFoxcaughtoldMr.Woodchuck,somethinghappenedthatsethimthinking. PerhapsIshouldsay“afewnights”insteadof“days.” Foronenighthismothercamehomewithafathenslungacrosshershoulders. ShehadbeendowntoFarmerGreen’shen-house,rightinthemiddleofthenight,whenFarmerGreenandhisfamilywereasleep;andshehadsnatchedoneofthesleepinghensofftheroostandstolenawaywithitwithoutwakinganybody. Onlyaverywiseoldfoxcoulddothat.“Youmustn’tgonearFarmerGreen’shen-house,”Mrs.FoxsaidtoTommy,astheypickedthebonesofthefathentogether. “YouarenotoldenoughtogetoneofFarmerGreen’shens.” YounoticethatMrs.Foxdidn’tspeakof“stealing”ahen.Shecalledit“getting”one. Forfoxesbelievethatitisonlyfairtotakeafarmer’shennowandthen,inreturnforkillingfieldmiceandwoodchucks,whicheatthefarmer’sgrain. Butthefarmerneverstopstothinkofthat. Heonlythinksofthehensthatheloses. TommyFoxneversaidawordwhilehismotherwastalkingtohim.Hewasverybusy,eating. Butthatwasnottheonlyreasonwhyhekeptstill. Heheardhismother’swarning,buthethoughtshewassilly. HereallybelievedthathewasquiteoldenoughandquitebigenoughandquitewiseenoughtogodowntoFarmerGreen’sandgetahenhimself. AftercatchingoldMr.WoodchuckTommyfeltthathewasabletodoabouteverythinghismothercoulddo. Andhemadeuphismindrightthenandtherethathewouldshowher. Hewouldpayavisittothehen-housethatverynight. TommyFoxcouldnotwaitfornighttocome. Infact,hecouldwaitonlyuntilthecloseofday—hewasinsuchahurrytocaptureahen. Thesunhadscarcelysunkoutofsightinthewestandtheskywasstillred,whenhecreptslylyuptoFarmerGreen’shen-house. TommyhadheardthatFarmerGreenwenttobedveryearly,afterworkinghardinthefieldseachday.Andsincehesawnobodystirringabouttheplacehethoughtthateveryonewasasleep. Thehenswereasleep.Therewasnodoubtofthat. Peepinginsidetheirlittlehouse,Tommycouldseethemroostinginrows. Andhelostnotimeinsqueezingthroughoneofthesmalldoors. Hefeltabittimid,oncehewasinside. Andforamomenthealmostwishedthathehadn’tcome. Buthewasdeterminedtotakeahenhomewithhim;sohereachedupandgrabbedtheveryfirsthenhecameto,onthelowestperchofall. Itwasabig,old,whitehenthatTommyFoxseized. Sheawokethemomenthetouchedher,andbegantosquall. AndtoTommy’salarm,alltherestofthehensheardherandbegantocackleloudly.Thenoisewasdeafening. AndTommymadeadashforthelittledoor,witholdMrs.WhiteHeninhismouth. Shewasflappingherwingsandkickingashardasshecould. AndTommywasdismayedtofindthathecouldnotgetherthroughthenarrowdoor. Everytimehetriedtopushthrough,oneofMrs.WhiteHen’slegs,orawing,orherhead,struckagainsttheedgeofthedoorway. Thenadogbarked.AndTommyheardsomethingrunningaroundthechicken-house.Hejustknewthatitwasaman.Andhedroppedtheoldheninahurryandslippedthroughthedoor. Hewasjustintime.Heheardamanshout,“Afterhim,Spot!”Andgivingonefrightenedglanceoverhisshoulder,TommysawthatFarmerGreen’sdogwasclosebehindhim. 
