village streets. Tommy was glad that he was high up on the seat of the
wagon, beside Johnnie Green, for he knew that he was perfectly safe
there. He saw so many strange sights that after that first day
whenever he saw Johnnie starting off for the village he was never
satisfied unless he went too.

On the whole, Tommy Fox did not have a bad time, being Johnnie Green's
pet. And although Farmer Green often complained that Johnnie would
rather play with his young fox than drive the cows, or feed the
chickens, or fetch water from the pump, still Farmer Green himself
rather enjoyed watching Tommy Fox.

But at last something happened that made Farmer Green very angry. One
morning he discovered that a fine hen had disappeared during the
night. And the following night another hen vanished.

Farmer Green was puzzled. Old Spot had been loose all the time, and he
had never barked once. That was what made Farmer Green suspicious.

Farmer Green went out into his door-yard, where Tommy Fox was basking
in the sunshine. Tommy looked up at Farmer Green very innocently. You
would have thought he had never done anything wrong in all his life.

Farmer Green began to examine the ground about Tommy's house. He
didn't find anything unusual. But when he knelt down and peered into
the hole Tommy Fox had dug for himself, what should he see but several
hen-feathers!

That was enough for Farmer Green. He knew then where his fat hens had
gone. But he was puzzled. There was Tommy, chained fast to the stake.