Now,therewasaroadthatranthroughthevalley,alongthebankofSwiftRiver. AndwhenMrs.Foxreachedit,withTommyclosebehindher,sheturnedagain—thistimetotheleft—andranalonginthebeatentrackwhichthehorsesandsleighshadmade. TommyFoxthoughtitverystrangethathismothershouldleadhimtotheroad,wheretheyweresuretofindpeopledriving.Tommyfollowedher.Buthewasveryunhappy. Theyswungintotheroadjustaheadofafarmer,whowasdrivingalonginasleigh. Thesleigh-bellstinkledmerrilyasthehorsetrottedsmartlydowntheroad. ButthejinglingofthebellsdidnotsoundatallpleasanttoTommyFox.Itonlyfrightenedhimallthemore. ThefarmerinthesleighdidnotseeTommyandhismother,forthesnowrosehighonbothsides,andtheroadwoundinandout. LittledidheknowthatMrs.FoxandTommywerescamperingalonginfrontofhim. Ofcourse,hecouldn’tcatchthem,anyhow.Tommyknewthatmuch. Butiftheyranveryfardowntheroadtheywouldbesuretomeetsomeotherman. ToTommyitseemedbadenoughtohavethatdogchasingthem,withoutgoingwheretheyweresuretofindotherenemies.Tommycouldhearthedogbaying. Andheknewdogswellenoughtoknowthatthatdogfeltverysurehewasgoingtocatchthem. ButprettysoonTommyheardthedogtalkinginaverydifferentfashion. Hegaveanumberofshortbarks,whichmeantthathewasintrouble. Mrs.FoxlookedoverhershoulderandsmiledatTommy.Sheknewthattheyweresafe. Sheknewthatthedoghadnotreachedtheroaduntilthefarmerhaddrivenrightovertheirfootstepsandspoiledtheirscent. Afterthehorsehadpassedovertheirtrailthedogcouldsmellonlythehorse’sfootprints,insteadoftheirs. AndMrs.Foxcouldtellwhatwashappeningbackthereintheroad. Sheknewjustexactlyaswellasifshehadbeenthereherself—sheknewthatthedoghadstoppedshort,andwasrunningallaround,withhisnosetotheground,tryingtofindwheresheandTommyhadgone.Butheneverfoundout. Yousee,hewasn’thalfascleverasMrs.Fox. ItneveronceoccurredtohimthatTommyandhismotherhadturnedintotheroadjustaheadofthatfarmerinhissleigh. AndfinallythestupiddoggaveupthechaseandwentbacktoFarmerGreen’shouse. BythattimeMrs.FoxandTommyweresafeathome. Yes—theywereevenhavingagoodlaughoverthewaytheyhadfooledthedog. AndTommyhadquiteforgottenhowfrightenedhehadbeen. Infact,hebegantofeelverywellpleasedwithhimself. Forheneveroncerememberedthatitwashismother,andnothimself,whohadthoughtofthattrick. Heoughttohavefeltverygratefultohisgrandmother,forhavingtaughthismotherthatcleverwayofcheatingadogoutofhisdinner. ButTommyFoxwassoconceitedthatifhisgrandmotherhadbeentherewiththemhewouldhavethoughtheknewtentimesasmuchasshedid. I’venodoubtthathewouldevenhavetriedtoteachhertosuckeggs—neveroncestoppingtothinkthatsheknewallaboutsuchthingsmanyyearsbeforehewasborn. 
