Mr.CrowhaddaredTommyFoxtogodowntopayacallonhisfrienddogSpot,atFarmerGreen’splace. AndTommywastrottingalongacrossthefields. HewasquitenearFarmerGreen’shousewhenheheardadogbarknotfaraway. “There’sSpotnow!”Tommysaidtohimself.Andheturnedatonceinthedirectionofthebarking.Hewassmiling,forheknewSpotwouldbegreatlypleasedtoseehim,andverymuchsurprised,too. Tommystoleslylyuptowardtheplacewherethedogwasbarking.Thesoundcamefrombeyondsomebushes. AndTommythoughthewouldjumpoutfrombehindthebushesandstartleSpot. Sohecreptuptothebushesandthensuddenlygaveayelpandleapedcleanoverthem. ItwasTommyFoxhimselfwhogotthesurprise.Fortherewasastrangedog!AndassoonashesawTommyhesprangafterhim. Tommydidnotwaitasecond.Heleftthatplaceagreatdealfasterthanhecame. Andashewentskimmingoverthefields,aredstreakagainstthebrownstubble,hecouldhearMr.Crowlaughingheartily. TheoldfellowhadsailedalonghighoverTommy’shead,toseewhathappened;andhewasgreatlypleasedwithhimself. Yousee,heknewthatFarmerGreen’shiredmanhadbroughthomeanewdogjustafewdaysbefore,andMr.CrowhopedthatifTommywenttothefarm-yardhewouldmeetthestrangedog. Tommywasveryangry.HesawatoncethatoldMr.Crowhadtrickedhimandhemadeuphismindthatifheeverhadachancehewouldgetevenwiththeoldgentleman. Butnowhehadnotimetothinkaboutthat. Therewasthatstrangedog,followinghotonhistrail. Tommyhadquiteenoughtoworryhim,withoutbotheringhisheadoverMr.Crowjustthen. Now,evenifTommyFoxwasconceited,hewasreallyaverybrightyoungster. Andasheboundedalonghethoughtofaprettycleverscheme. Yes,hethoughtofafinetricktoplayonthatdog.Theideacametohimallatonce. Andassoonasthethoughtpoppedintohishead,TommyturnedtowardSwiftRiver. Hewasatthebankinnotime,andheskippednimblydowntotheriver’sedge. TommyFoxcouldseenowateratallrunninginSwiftRiver. Andyoumightthinkhewasdisappointed.Buthewasn’t.Hefoundexactlywhathehadhopedfor. Hecouldseenowaterrunning,downthereinthebedoftheriver,becausetheriverwascoveredwithice. Itwasjustathinshellofice;butitwasstrongenoughtobearTommy’sweight.Heranacrossitquickly.Andthenwhatdoyousupposehedid?Hesatrightdownontheoppositebank! TommyFoxwantedtoseethefun.Hehadtowaitonlyaminute.Forprettysoonthestrangedogcamerushingdowntheoppositebankoftheriverandleapedfaroutfromtheedgeofthestream. Therewasacrash,andasplitting,cracklingnoise! Andthestrangedogwasflounderinginthecoldwater. Theicewasnotthickenoughtoholdhimup,andhehadhardworktoscramblebacktothebankagain. Butheclimbedoutofthewateratlast,andtuckedhistailbetweenhislegsandmadeoff. OldMr.Crowsawwhathappened.Hestoppedlaughing.Andhesailedawaysilently,thinkingthatTommyFoxwasaprettysmartyoungcub,afterall. 
