Bowser The Hound by Thornton W. Burgess
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Thornton W. Burgess >> Bowser The Hound
_Bowser the Hound._
When Reddy Fox dashed between the legs of Farmer Brown's boy and out of
the open door of the henhouse, it was with his heart in his mouth. At
least, it seemed that way. Would he find the henyard gate open?
Supposing Farmer Brown's boy had closed it after he entered! Reddy would
then be a prisoner just as he had been all night, and all hope would
end.
Just imagine with what terrible anxiety and eagerness Reddy looked
towards that gate as he dashed out of the open door. Just imagine the
relief that was his when he saw that the gate was open. In that very
instant the snowy outside world became more beautiful and wonderful than
ever it had been in all his life before. He was free! free! free!
If ever there was a surprised boy, that boy was Farmer Brown's as he
watched Reddy twist around a corner of the barn and disappear.
"Reddy Fox!" he exclaimed. "Now how under the sun did that rascal get in
here?" Then, as he realized that Reddy had actually been inside the
henhouse, anxiety for the biddies swept over him. Hastily he turned,
fully expecting to see either the bodies of two or three hens on the
floor, or scattered feathers to show that Reddy had enjoyed a midnight
feast. There were no feathers, and so far as he could see, all the hens
were standing or walking about.
At once Farmer Brown's boy began to count them. Of course, he knew
exactly how many there should be. When he got through counting, not one
was missing. Farmer Brown's boy was puzzled. He counted them again. Then
he counted them a third time. He began to think there must be something
wrong with his counting. After the fourth count, however, he was forced
to believe that not a single one was missing.
If Reddy Fox had been relieved when he discovered that henyard gate
open, Farmer Brown's boy was equally relieved when he found that not a
single biddie had been taken. When two people are relieved at the same
time, it is called mutual relief. But there was this difference between
Reddy Fox and Farmer Brown's boy: Reddy knew all about what had
happened, and Farmer Brown's boy couldn't even guess. He went all around
that henhouse, trying to find a way by which Reddy Fox had managed to
get in. Of course, he discovered that the little sliding door where the
biddies go in and out of the henhouse was open. He guessed that this
was the way by which Reddy had entered.
But this didn't explain matters at all. He knew that the gate had been
latched when he entered the henyard that morning. How had Reddy managed
to get into that henyard with that gate closed? To this day, Farmer
Brown's boy is still wondering.
CHAPTER XIX
WHERE WAS BOWSER THE HOUND?
A good Hound never barks on a cold trail.
_Bowser the Hound._
Where was Bowser the Hound? That was the question which was puzzling all
the little people who knew him. Also it was puzzling Farmer Brown's boy
and Farmer Brown and Mrs. Brown. I have said that it was puzzling all
the little people who knew him. This is not quite true, because there
were two who could at least guess what had become of Bowser. One was Old
Man Coyote, who had, as you remember, led Bowser far away and got him
lost. The other was Blacky the Crow, who had discovered Bowser in his
trouble and had helped him.
Old Man Coyote didn't know exactly where Bowser was, and he wasn't
interested enough to think much about it. He hoped that Bowser had been
so badly lost that he never would return. Blacky the Crow knew exactly
where Bowser was, but he kept it to himself. It pleases Blacky to have a
secret which other people would give much to know. Blacky is one of
those people who can keep a secret. He isn't at all like Peter Rabbit.
Reddy Fox was one who was very much interested in the fate of Bowser
the Hound. As day after day went by and Bowser did not appear, Reddy had
a growing hope that he never would appear.
"I can't imagine what Old Man Coyote could have done to Bowser," said
Reddy to himself. "He certainly couldn't have killed Bowser in a fight,
for that old rascal would never in the world dare face Bowser the Hound
in a fight. But he certainly has caused something to happen to Bowser.
If that bothersome dog never returns, it certainly will make things a
lot easier for Granny Fox and myself."
As for Farmer Brown's boy, he was as much puzzled as any of the little
people and a whole lot more worried. He drove all about the
neighborhood, asking at every house if anything had been seen of
Bowser, Nowhere did he get any trace of him. No one had seen him. It was
very mysterious. Farmer Brown's boy had begun to suspect that Bowser had
met with an accident somewhere off in the woods and had been unable to
get help. It made Farmer Brown's boy very sad indeed. His cheery whistle
was no longer heard, for he did not feel like whistling. At last he
quite gave up hope of ever again seeing Bowser.
CHAPTER XX
WHERE BOWSER WAS
When things are at their very worst,
As bad, you think, as they can be,
Just lay aside your feelings sad;
The road ahead may turn, you see.
_Bowser the Hound._
You remember that Blacky the Crow led poor Bowser to an old road and
there left him. Blacky reasoned that if Bowser had any sense at all, he
would know that that road must lead somewhere and would follow it. If he
didn't have sense enough to do this, he deserved to starve or freeze,
was the way Blacky reasoned it out. Of course Blacky knew exactly where
the road would lead.
Now Bowser did have sense. Of course he did. The minute he found that
road, a great load was taken from his mind. He no longer felt wholly
lost. He was certain that all he had to do was to keep in that road, and
sooner or later he would come to a house. The thing that worried him
most was whether or not he would have strength enough to keep going
until he reached that house. You remember that he was weak from lack of
food, lame, and half frozen.
Poor old Bowser! He certainly was the picture of misery as he limped
along that road. His tail hung down as if he hadn't strength enough to
hold it up. His head also hung low. He walked on three legs and limped
with one of these. In his eyes was such a look of pain and suffering as
would have touched the hardest heart. He whined and whimpered as he
limped along.
It seemed to him that he had gone a terribly long distance, though
really it was not far at all, when something tickled his nose, that
wonderful nose which can smell the tracks of others long after they have
passed. But this time it wasn't the smell of a track that tickled his
nose; it was something in the air. Bowser lifted his head and sniffed
long and hard. What he smelled was smoke. He knew what that meant.
Somewhere not very far ahead of him was a house.
[Illustration: SOMEWHERE NOT VERY FAR AHEAD OF HIM WAS A HOUSE. _Page
96._]
With new hope and courage Bowser tried to hurry on. Presently around a
turn of the road he saw a farmyard. The smell of the smoke from the
chimney of the farmhouse was stronger now, and with it was mingled an
appetizing smell of things cooking. Into Bowser's whimper there now
crept a little note of eagerness as he dragged himself across the
farmyard and up to the back door. There his strength quite left him. He
didn't have enough left to even bark. All he could do was whine. After
what seemed a long, long time the door opened, and a motherly woman
stood looking down at him. Two minutes later Bowser lay on a mat close
by the kitchen stove.
CHAPTER XXI
BOWSER BECOMES A PRISONER
There is no one in all the Great World more faithful than a
faithful dog.
_Bowser the Hound._
Bowser the Hound was a prisoner. Yes, Sir, Bowser was a sure-enough
prisoner. But there is a great difference in prisons. Bowser was a
prisoner of kindness. It seems funny that kindness should ever make any
one a prisoner, but it is so sometimes.
You see, it was this way: When Bowser had been taken in to that strange
farmhouse, he had been so used up that he had had only strength enough
to very feebly wag his tail. Right away the people in that farmhouse
knew what had happened to Bowser. That is, they knew part of what had
happened to him. They knew that he had been lost and had somehow hurt
one leg. They were very, very good to him. They fed him, and made a
comfortable bed for him, and rubbed something on the leg which he had
hurt and which had swollen. Almost right away after eating Bowser went
to sleep and slept and slept and slept. It was the very best thing he
could have done.
The next day he felt a whole lot better, but he was so stiff and lame
that he could hardly move. He didn't try very much. He was petted and
cared for quite as tenderly as he would have been at his own home. So
several days passed, and Bowser was beginning to feel more like himself.
The more he felt like himself, the more he wanted to go home. It wasn't
that there he would receive any greater kindness than he was now
receiving, but home is home and there is no place like it. So Bowser
began to be uneasy.
"This dog doesn't belong anywhere around here," said the man of the
house. "I know every Hound for miles around, and I never have seen this
one before. He has come a long distance. It will not do to let him go,
for he will try to find his way home and the chances are that he will
again get lost. We must keep him in the house or chained up. Perhaps
some day we may be able to find his owner. If not, we will keep him. I
am sure he will soon become contented here."
Now that man knew dogs. Had Bowser had the chance, he would have done
exactly what that man had said. He would have tried to find his way
home, and he hadn't the least idea in the world in which direction home
lay. But he didn't get the chance to try. When he was allowed to run out
of doors it was always with some one to watch him. He was petted and
babied and made a great deal of, but he knew all the time that he was a
prisoner. He knew that if he was to get away at all he would have to
sneak away, and somehow there never seemed a chance to do this. He was
grateful to these kindly people, but down in his heart was a great
longing for Farmer Brown's boy and _home_. He always felt this longing
just a wee bit stronger when Blacky the Crow passed over and cawed.
CHAPTER XXII
FARMER BROWN'S BOY LOOKS IN VAIN
Loyalty is priceless and
Is neither sold nor bought.
Alas, how few who seem to know
Its value as they ought.
_Bowser the Hound._
As I have told you, Farmer Brown's boy had been all about the
neighborhood asking at each farmhouse if anything had been seen of
Bowser. Of course nothing had been seen of him, and so at last Farmer
Brown's boy felt sure that something dreadful had happened to Bowser in
the woods.
For several days he tramped through the Green Forest and up through the
Old Pasture, looking for signs of Bowser. His heart was heavy, for you
know Bowser was quite one of the family. He visited every place he could
think of where he and Bowser had hunted together. He knew that by this
time Bowser couldn't possibly be alive if he had been caught by a foot
in a trap or had met with an accident in the woods. He had quite given
up all hope of ever seeing Bowser alive again. But he did want to know
just what had happened to him, and so he kept searching and searching.
One day Farmer Brown's boy heard that a strange dog had been found over
in the next township. That afternoon he drove over there, his heart
filled with great hope. But he had his long ride for nothing, for when
he got there he found that the strange dog was not Bowser at all.
Meanwhile Old Man Coyote and Reddy Fox and Old Granny Fox had become
very bold. They even came up around the henyard in broad daylight.
"I believe you know something about what has become of Bowser," Farmer
Brown's boy said, as he chased Old Man Coyote away one day. "You
certainly know that he isn't home, and I more than suspect that you know
_why_ he isn't home. I certainly shall have to get another dog to teach
you not to be so bold."
But somehow Farmer Brown's boy couldn't bring himself quite to taking
such a step as getting a new dog. He felt that no other dog ever could
take Bowser's place, and in spite of the fact that he thought he had
given up all hope of ever seeing Bowser again, 'way down deep inside was
something which, if it were not hope, was something enough like it to
keep him from getting another dog in Bowser's place.
Whenever he went about away from home, he kept an eye out for dogs in
the farmyards he passed. He did it without really thinking anything
about it. He had given up hope of finding Bowser, yet he was always
looking for him.
CHAPTER XXIII
BOWSER'S GREAT VOICE
To long for home when far away
Will rob of joy the brightest day.
_Bowser the Hound._
There is as much difference in the voices of dogs as in the voices of
human beings. For that matter, this is true of many of the little people
who wear fur. Bowser the Hound had a wonderful, deep, clear voice, a
voice that could be heard a great distance. No one who knew it would
ever mistake it for the voice of any other Hound.
As a rule, Bowser seldom used that great voice of his save when he was
hunting some one. Then, when the scent was strong, he gave tongue so
fast that you wondered how he had breath enough left to run. But now
that he was a prisoner of kindness, in the home of the people who had
taken him in when he had crept to their doorstep, Bowser sometimes bayed
from sheer homesickness. When he was tied out in the yard, he would
sometimes get to thinking of his home and long to see Farmer Brown and
Mrs. Brown and especially his master, Farmer Brown's boy. Then, when he
could stand it no longer, he would open his mouth and send his great
voice rolling across to the woods with a tone of mournfulness which
never had been there before.
But great as was Bowser's voice, and far as it would carry, there was
none who knew him to hear it, save Blacky the Crow. You remember that
Blacky knew just where Bowser was and often flew over that farmyard to
make sure that Bowser was still there. So more than once Blacky heard
Bowser's great voice with its mournful note, and understood it.
It troubled Blacky. Yes, Sir, it actually troubled Blacky. He knew just
what was the matter with Bowser, but for the life of him he couldn't
think of any way of helping Bowser. "That dog is homesick," croaked
Blacky, as he sat in the top of a tall tree, scratching his head as if
he thought he might scratch an idea out of it. "Of course he doesn't
know how to get home, and if he tried he probably would get as badly
lost as he was before. Anyway, they don't give him a chance to try. I
can't lead Farmer Brown's boy over here because he doesn't understand my
talk, and I don't understand his. There isn't a thing I can do but keep
watch. I wish Bowser would stop barking. It makes me feel uncomfortable.
Yes, Sir, it makes me feel uncomfortable. Old Man Coyote got Bowser into
this trouble, and he ought to get him out again, but I don't suppose it
is the least bit of use to ask him. It won't do any harm to try,
anyway."
So Blacky started back for the Green Forest and the Old Pasture near
Farmer Brown's to look for Old Man Coyote, and for a long time as he
flew he could hear Bowser's voice with its note of homesickness and
longing.
CHAPTER XXIV
BLACKY TRIES TO GET HELP
You'll find that nothing more worth while can be
Than helping others whose distress you see.
_Bowser the Hound._
On his way back to the Green Forest near Farmer Brown's home, Blacky the
Crow kept a sharp watch for Old Man Coyote. But Old Man Coyote was
nowhere to be seen, and it was too late to go look for him, because
jolly, round, red Mr. Sun had already gone to bed behind the Purple
Hills and the Black Shadows were hurrying towards the Green Forest.
Blacky never is out after dark. You might think that one with so black
a coat would be fond of the Black Shadows, but it isn't so at all. The
fact is, bold and impudent as Blacky the Crow is in daylight, he is
afraid of the dark. He is quite as timid as anybody I know of in the
dark. So Blacky always contrives to go to bed early and is securely
hidden away in his secret roosting-place by the time the Black Shadows
reach the edge of the Green Forest.
Perhaps it isn't quite fair to say that Blacky is afraid of the dark. It
isn't the dark itself that Blacky fears, but it is one who is abroad in
the dark. It is Hooty the Owl. Hooty would just as soon dine on Blacky
the Crow as he would on any one else, and Blacky knows it.
The next morning, bright and early, Blacky flew over to the Old Pasture
to the home of Old Man Coyote. Just as he got there he saw Old Man
Coyote coming home from an all-night hunt. "I hope you have had good
hunting," said Blacky politely.
Old Man Coyote looked up at Blacky sharply. Blacky is polite only when
he wants to get something. "There was plenty of hunting, but little
enough reward for it," replied Old Man Coyote. "What brings you over
here so early? I should suppose you would be looking for a breakfast."
Now Blacky the Crow is a very wise fellow. He knows when it is to be
sly and crafty and when it is best to be frank and out-spoken. This was
a time for the latter. "I know where Bowser the Hound is," said Blacky.
"I saw him yesterday."
Old Man Coyote pricked up his ears and grinned. "I thought he was dead,"
said he. "It's a long time since we've heard from Bowser. Is he well?"
"Quite well," replied Blacky, "but unhappy. He is homesick. I suspect
that the trouble with Bowser is that he hasn't the least idea in which
direction home lies. You enjoy running, so why not go with me to pay
Bowser a visit and then lead him back home?"
Old Man Coyote threw back his head and laughed in that crazy fashion of
his till the very hills rang with the sound of his voice.
CHAPTER XXV
BLACKY CALLS ON REDDY FOX
Saying what you mean, and meaning what you say
Are matters quite as different as night is from the day.
_Bowser the Hound._
Blacky the Crow wasted no time with Old Man Coyote after he heard Old
Man Coyote laugh. There was a note in that crazy laugh of Old Man
Coyote's that told Blacky he might just as well talk to the rocks or the
trees about helping Bowser the Hound. Old Man Coyote had led Bowser into
his trouble, and it was quite clear that not only did he have no
regrets, but he was actually glad that Bowser was not likely to return.
"You're a hard-hearted old sinner," declared Blacky, as he prepared to
fly in search of Reddy Fox.
Old Man Coyote grinned. "It is every one for himself, you know," said
he. "Bowser would do his best to catch me if he had the chance. So if he
is in trouble, he can stay there for all of me."
It didn't take Blacky long to find Reddy Fox. You see, it was so early
in the morning that Reddy had not retired for his daily nap. Like Old
Man Coyote, he was just returning from a night's hunt when Blacky
arrived.
"Hello, Reddy!" exclaimed Blacky. "You certainly are looking in mighty
fine condition. That red coat of yours is the handsomest coat I've ever
seen. If I had a coat like that I know I should be so swelled up with
pride that I just wouldn't be able to see common folks. I'm glad you're
not that way, Reddy. One of the things I like about you is the fact that
you never allow your fine coat to make you proud. That is more than I
can say for some folks I know."
Reddy Fox sat down with his big bushy tail curled around to keep his
toes warm, cocked his head on one side, and looked up at Blacky the Crow
as if he were trying to see right inside that black head to find out
what was going on there.
"Now what has that black scamp got in his mind," thought Reddy. "He
never pays compliments unless he wants something in return. That old
black rascal has the smoothest tongue in the Green Forest. He hasn't
come 'way over here just to tell me that I have a handsome coat. He
wouldn't fly over a fence to tell anybody that unless it was for a
purpose."
Aloud he said, "Good morning, Blacky. I suppose I must admit I have a
fine coat. Perhaps I do look very fine, but if you could see under this
red coat of mine, you would find mighty little meat on my ribs. To be
quite honest, I am not feeling half as fine as I look. You lucky
fellows who can fly and don't have to think about distances may be able
to live well these days, but as for me, I've forgotten when last I had a
good meal."
CHAPTER XXVI
RED WITS AND BLACK WITS
This fact you'll find is always so:
He's quick of wit who fools a Crow.
_Bowser the Hound._
There is no greater flatterer in the Green Forest or on the Green
Meadows than Blacky the Crow when he hopes to gain something thereby.
His tongue is so smooth that it is a wonder it does not drip oil. He is
crafty, is Blacky. But these same things are true of Reddy Fox. No one
ever yet had a chance to accuse Reddy Fox of lacking in sharp wits.
Mistakes he makes, as everybody does, but Reddy's wits are always keen
and active.
Now Reddy knew perfectly well that Blacky wanted something of him, and
this was why he was saying such pleasant things. Blacky the Crow knew
that Reddy knew this thing, and that if he would make use of Reddy as he
hoped to, he must contrive to keep Reddy wholly in the dark as to what
he wanted done.
So as they sat there, Reddy Fox on the snow with his tail curled around
his feet to keep them warm, and Blacky the Crow in the top of a little
tree above Reddy's head, they were playing a sort of game. It was red
wits against black wits. Reddy was trying to outguess Blacky, and
Blacky was trying to outguess Reddy, and both were enjoying it. People
with sharp wits always enjoy matching their wits against other sharp
wits.
When Reddy Fox said that in spite of his fine appearance he had
forgotten when last he had had a good meal, Blacky pretended to think he
was joking. "You surprise me," said he. "Whatever is the matter with my
good friend Reddy, that he goes hungry when he no longer has anything to
fear from Bowser the Hound. By the way, I saw Bowser the other day."
At this, just for an instant, Reddy's eyes flew wide open. Then they
half closed again until they were just two yellow slits. But quickly as
he closed them, Blacky had seen that startled surprise. "Yes," said
Blacky, "I saw Bowser the other day, or at least some one who looked
just like him. Wouldn't you like to have him back here, Reddy?"
"Most decidedly no," replied Reddy with great promptness. "A dog is a
nuisance. He isn't of any use in the wide, wide world."
"Not even to drive off Old Man Coyote?" asked Blacky slyly, for he knew
that more than once Bowser the Hound had helped Reddy out of trouble
with Old Man Coyote.
Reddy pretended not to hear this. "I don't believe you saw Bowser,"
said he. "I don't believe anybody will ever see Bowser again. I hope
not, anyway." And Blacky knew by the way Reddy said this that it would
be quite useless to ask Reddy to help get Bowser home.
CHAPTER XXVII
THE ARTFULNESS OF BLACKY
Who runs in circles never gets far.
_Bowser the Hound._
To be artful is to be very clever. It is to do things in a way so clever
that people will not see what you are really doing. No one can be more
artful than Blacky the Crow when he sets out to be.
Blacky was smart enough not to let Reddy know that he was seeking
Reddy's help for Bowser. He soon found out that Reddy would not
knowingly help the least little bit, so he decided at once that the
only thing for him to do was to get Reddy to help unsuspectingly. He
changed the subject very abruptly.
"How are the chickens at Farmer Brown's?" inquired he.
Reddy looked up and grinned. "They seem to be in just as good health as
ever," said he, "so far as I can judge. Farmer Brown's boy seems to be
terribly suspicious. He locks them up at night so tight that not even
Shadow the Weasel could get his nose inside that henhouse."
Blacky's eyes twinkled, but he took care that Reddy should not see them.
"Farmer Brown's boy is different from some folks I know," said he.
"How's that?" demanded Reddy Fox.
"Why," replied Blacky, "there is a certain farmyard I know of where the
hens are not kept shut up at all in the daytime, but run around where
they please. I see them every day when I am flying over. They certainly
are fine-looking hens. I don't think I've ever seen fatter ones. Some of
them are so fat they can hardly run."
As Reddy Fox listened, a look of eagerness crept into his eyes, and his
mouth began to water. He just couldn't help it. "Where did you say those
hens are?" he asked, trying to speak carelessly.
"I didn't say," replied Blacky, turning his head aside to hide a grin.
"It is a long way from here, Reddy, so I don't believe you would really
be interested."
"That all depends," replied Reddy. "I would go a long way if it were
worth while. I don't suppose you noticed if there were any dogs about
where those hens are?"