Yes—therewastroublewhenFarmerGreendiscoveredthatTommyFoxhadbeenstealinghishens. HefastenedtheendofTommy’schaintothestakeoncemore. Andthenhewentouttothebarn,wherehisboyJohnniewaswateringthehorses. “We’llhavetokillthatfox,”hesaidtoJohnnie. “He’sgotloose,somehow,andhe’sstolentwohens. Ican’thavehimontheplaceanylonger. He’smadefriendswitholdSpotandthedogwilllethimdoanythinghelikes.” PoorJohnnieGreen!Hefeltsosad!AndhebeggedhisfathernottokillTommy.ButFarmerGreenwasveryangrywithTommy. “No!”hesaid.“Thatcub’ssotrickythere’snoknowingwhenhe’llgetlooseagain.”ButJohnniebeggedsohardthathisfatherpromisedthathemightkeepTommyonemoreday. JohnnieGreenwasindespair.Hecouldnotbeartohavehispetkilled. Andwhenhewenttobedthatnightheneverfellasleepatall. Hewasverytired;buthemanagedtokeepawake. AndinthemiddleofthenightJohnniegotoutofbedandputonhisclothes.Hedidn’tdaretolighthiscandle. Butthemoonbeamsstreamedinthroughhislittlegable-windowandJohnniecouldseeverywellwithoutanyotherlight. AssoonashewasdressedJohnniestoledownthestairs,carryinghisshoesinhishand,sohewouldn’tmakeanynoise. Inspiteofallhiscaution,theoldstairswouldcreaknowandthen. Butluckilynobodyheardhim;andsoonJohnniewasoutofthehouse. HefoundTommyFoxwideawake,sittingonhishaunchesinthemoonlight,listening.FarawayinthedistanceafoxwasbarkingandTommythoughtitsoundedlikehismother’svoice. TommywassurprisedtoseeJohnnieGreenatthathour. AndhewasastonishedwhenJohnnieuntiedthechainfromthestakeandstartedawaywithhim. Theywentoffacrossthefields,towardBlueMountain,rightinthedirectionofthatbarking. Themeadowssmelledsweet;andTommyFoxbegantowishthathecouldsliphisheadoutofhiscollarandscamperaway. Andthatwasexactlywhathappened. Aftertheyhadgonesomedistance,JohnnieGreenstopped.HeunbuckledTommy’scollar,andgaveTommyapush. AtfirstTommywasnotquitesurethathewantedtoleavehisgoodmaster. Buttherewasthatfox,yelpingandcalling. SomethingseemedtodrawTommytowardthatsound.Hejustcouldn’thelphimself. Andthefirstthingheknewhewasboundingoffoverthemeadowrunningasfastashislegswouldcarryhim,andbarkingasloudlyashecouldbark. JohnnieGreenwentslowlyhomeagain.Hecreptintothehouseandstoleupstairs,andcriedhimselftosleep.Buthewasgladofonething.TommyFoxwouldnotbekilledthenextmorning. 
