"Did you get the chicken, Granny?" he asked weakly. No one
answered. "I say, did you get the chicken, Granny?" Reddy's voice
sounded a little sharp and cross as he asked this time.

Still there was no reply, and Reddy began to be a little bit
suspicious. He turned over and raised his head to look. Instead
of old Granny Fox, there was Unc' Billy Possum grinning at him.

"Smarty, Smarty is a thief!
Smarty, Smarty came to grief!
Tried to show off just for fun
And ran too near a loaded gun.

"Yo' all certainly has got just what yo' deserve, and Ah'm glad
of it! Ah'm glad of it, Suh!" said Unc' Billy Possum severely.

An angry light came into the eyes of Reddy Fox and made them an
ugly yellow for just a minute. But he felt too sick to quarrel.
Unc' Billy Possum saw this. He saw how Reddy was really
suffering, and down deep in his heart Unc' Billy was truly sorry
for him. But he didn't let Reddy know it. No, indeed! He just
pretended to be tickled to death to see Reddy Fox so helpless. He
didn't dare stay long, for fear Granny Fox would return. So,
after saying a few more things to make Reddy feel uncomfortable,
Unc' Billy started off up the Lone Little Path toward the Green
Forest.

"Too bad! Too bad!" he muttered to himself. "If ol' Granny Fox
isn't smart enough to get Reddy enough to eat, Ah'll have to
see what we-alls can do. Ah cert'nly will."