TherewasaverygoodreasonwhyMrs.FoxdidnotcomehomethatdaywhenthedogSpotchasedTommyFoxintohishouse. ShehadheardoldSpotbarkinginthefieldandshehadhurriedtowardhomeasfastasshecould,toseewhatwasthematter. Tohergreatdismay,whensheleapeduponthestone-wallnotfarfromherhouseMrs.FoxcouldseeSpotscratchingatherdoor.AndsheguessedatoncethathehaddrivenTommyinside. Thepooroldladyhardlyknewwhattodo. Butshehidinthegrass,hopingthatSpotwouldgrowtiredofhistaskandgohome. ButolddogSpotkeptupagreatbarking. Hehowledsoloudlythattheyheardhimwayoffatthefarm-house;andMrs.FoxnearlyweptwhenshesawFarmerGreenandhisboyJohnniecomehurryingacrossthefields. PrettysoonJohnnieGreenreturnedtothefarmhouse;andwhenhecamebackMrs.Foxcouldseethathecarriedasteeltrap. ForashorttimeJohnnieandhisfatherbusiedthemselvesatherdoorway. Andthentheywentaway,callingolddogSpotafterthem. Aftertheyhadgone,Mrs.Foxstolesadlyacrossthefieldtothehomeshehadlikedsowell. Sheknewthatshecouldlivetherenolongerinpeaceandquiet.Yes—shewouldhavetomove. AndnowthefirstthingtobedonewastogetTommysafelyoutofthehouse. Mrs.Foxreachedherdoor-yard.Andthereshepaused.Therewasnotraptobeseen,anywhere. Butthepathleadingtoherdoorwassprinkledthickwithfreshearth;andwiseoldMrs.Foxknewthathiddenunderneathit,somewhere,laythatcrueltrap,withitsjawswideopen,waitingtocatchherifshesteppedbetweenthem. Shecreptasclosetoherdoorasshedared,andcalledsoftlytoTommy. Idon’tneedtosaythathersonwasdelightedtohearhismother’svoice. Hepokedhisnoseoutoftheholeatonce. Andhewouldhavejumpedoutandfallenrightintothetrapifhismotherhadnotwarnedhim. “Don’tcomeout!”shecriedsharply,“There’satraphere,beneaththisdirt.Now,dojustasItellyou,oryou’llbecaught!” TommyFoxwasfrightened.Foronce,atleast,hebelieved,thathismotherknewmorethanhedid. Andhedidn’tdaremove,exceptwhensheordered. Hedidn’tdareputafootdownexceptwhereshetoldhimto. Tommyhadtakenseveralcarefulsteps,andhismotherhadbeguntothinkthathewasalmostsafelypastthetrap,whenaveryunfortunatethinghappened. Tommywasjustabouttosetoneofhisfrontfeetdownuponaspotthathismotherhadpointedouttohim,whensomebodysuddenlycalled,“Stop,thief!” TommyFoxwassostartledthathegaveaquickjump.Snap!wentthetrap. AndthoughTommysprangupintotheair,hewasjusttoolate. Thetrapclosedtightlyacrossthetipsofhistoes. Itwasonlyonefootthatwascaught;butthatwasenough. Hecouldnotgetaway—nomatterhowhardhepulled. ItwasoldMr.Crowwhohadcalled“Stop,thief!”Hewaslaughingnow.His“Haw-haw!Haw-haw!” couldbeheardplainlyenough,asheflappedawayingreatglee,totellalltheforest-peoplethatTommyFoxwouldtroublethemnomore. 
