TommyFoxstoppedshortandlistened.Itwasearlyspring,andthesnowwasstilldeeponthesidesofBlueMountain. Thump—thump—thump,thump,thump,thump!Rub—rub—rub—rub,r-r-r-r-r-r-r! Ifyouhadheardthatsoundyouwouldhavesaidthattherewasaboyhiddensomewhereonthemountain;andthathewasplayingadrum.ButTommyFoxknewbetterthanthat. HeknewthatitwasMr.GrousecallingtoMrs.Grouse. AndTommyknewthathemadethatnoisebybeatingtheairwithhisstrongwings. Now,TommyFoxhadnoteatenagrouseforalong,longtime.Hehadnevercapturedagrousehimself. Infact,hehadnevereventried,sincethattimeinthesummer,whenoldMotherGrousehadplayedatrickonhim,andledhimawayfromherchildren. TommymadeuphismindnowthathewasoldenoughandwiseenoughtocaptureMr.Grouse. Buthethoughthehadbetterwaituntilnight,whenMr.Grousecouldn’tseewell. TommyFox’seyes,youknow,wereevensharperatnightthantheywereinthedaytime. Well!TommyFoxwenthome.AndthatverynighthestolebackagaintotheclumpofevergreenswherehehadheardMr.Grousedrumming. Itwasprettydarkupthereonthemountain. ButTommyhadnotroubleatallinfindinghisway. Andhekeptlookingupatthethickbranchesoftheevergreens,forhehopedthatMr.Grousewasasleeponalowbranch,whichhecouldreachwithagood,highjump. Yes—itwasdark.AnditwasverycoldupthereonBlueMountain,forallitwasearlyspringtime.Andtheevergreentreesbowedbeneathaburdenofsnow,whichhadfallenonlythedaybefore. Itwasverystillintheforest.AndwhenTommyFoxsuddenlyheardacryof“Whoo—whoo—whoo!”hejumped,inspiteofhimself. Tommyknew,rightaway,thatitwasonlyMr.Owl.Andhefeltverysheepish. AndthenallatonceTommyjumpedagain. Thistimehewasterriblyfrightened,forthestrangestthinghappened. Thesnowroserightupbeneathhisfeet,andflewinhisface. Andsomethingstruckhimagood,hardblowunderhischin. Tommyfelloverbackwardinthesnow,hewassosurprised. Andaroarlikethunderrangthroughtheforest. Tommyknewthenwhathadhappened.Maybeyouhaveguessed,too.ForitwasMr.Grousehimself. Hehadburrowedhiswayintothesnow,sothathemighthaveawarmblankettocoverhimduringthenight. AndTommyFoxhadsteppedsquarelyontopofhim. ItwasnowonderMr.Grousehadsprungupinahurry.HewasjustasfrightenedasTommyhimself,becausehehadbeensoundasleep,andhehadnoideawhatwasthematter. AsforTommyFox,itwasahugejokeonhim.Butitwasajokethatdidn’tpleaseTommyatall.Hefeltverysilly,whenitwasallover. 
