Bythetimesummerwasnearlyover,TommyFoxwasmuchbiggerthanhehadbeeninthespring. Somanythingshadhappened,andhehadlearnedsomuch,thathebegantobequitebold. Andhehadgrownsosaucythathismotheroftenhadtoscoldhim. Tommyhadfallenintothebadhabitofgoingaboutcallingalltheforest-peoplenames;andinthatwayhehadgainedforhimselftheill-willofallthecreatureswholivednearthefootofBlueMountain. Itinterferedwithhishunting,becausewheneverhestartedouttogetsomethingtoeat,assoonastheysawhimtheforest-peopletoldoneanotherthathewascoming. OldMr.Crowespeciallywastheworstofall.Hewasforevercalling“Stop,thief!” afterTommyFox;andthenhewouldhaw-hawinamannerthatwasfrightfullyannoying. Infact,hemadematterssounpleasantthatafteratimeTommybegantoroamfardownthevalley,alongSwiftRiver,wherehetriedtocatchfish. Thefish,atleast,couldn’tcallhimnames,andtherewassomesatisfactioninthatfact,evenifhehadn’tmuchluckasafisherman. AndjustforexcitementTommybegantoworryFarmerGreen’sSpot.HedelightedinbarkingatSpot.AndSpotwouldalwaysstopwhathewasdoingandrushpell-mellafterTommyFox. ThenTommywouldskipawaywithalaugh.Firsthealwaysranfortheriver,andjumpedfromonestonetoanother,andwadedwherethewaterwasshallow. Thenhewoulddashoffthroughthemeadows,leavingsocrookedatrailbehindhimthatwhenSpotatlastfoundtheplacewhereTommyhadlefttheriver,henevercouldfollowhimveryfar. ButonedayTommystumbleduponSpotquitebyaccident. Therewasnowindatallthatday,tobringanyscenttoTommy’ssharpnose. AndhesuddenlyfoundthatSpotwasrightinfrontofhim,betweenhimandtheriver. TommyFoxturnedandran.Helaughed,too;becausehefeltquitesurethathecouldoutwitoldSpot. Andheleapedandtwistedandturnedabout,andmadesomanycircles,thathefeltsureSpotcouldn’tfollowhim. Yes—Tommyfeltsosafethathestoppedrunningandwastrottingslowlyalongthroughthefieldinwhichhelived. Hewasalmosthome,whenheheardanoisebehindhim. HelookedaroundandtohisgreatsurprisetherewasSpotalmostuponhim. Therewasnotimetolose.TherewasonlyonethingTommycoulddo. Thedoorofhismother’shousewasonlyashortdistanceoffandTommymadeforit.Luckily,hemanagedtoreachit. Onceinside,hecouldhearthedogSpotbarkingintheopening. ButheknewthatSpotwastoobigtofollowhim. AlthoughTommywasverygladtobesafeathome,hewasworried. FornowSpotknewwhereheandhismotherlived;andtheywouldhavetomove. TommywasafraidhismotherwouldbeveryangrywithhimforbeingsostupidastoletSpotfollowhim.Buthecouldn’thelpitnow. Meanwhile,oldSpotcontinuedtobark,andscratchatthedoorofTommy’shome.Butatlasthestopped.Andallwasstill. Tommywonderedwherehismotherwas.Shewasnotathome. Andhewantedtoseeher,evenifhewasafraidthatshewouldpunishhim. ForTommydidnotknowexactlywhattodo. HedidnotdaregooutforfearSpotmightbelyinginwaitforhim.SoTommystayedthere.Andstillhismotherdidnotcomehome.Hewonderedwhereshecouldbe. 
