"No!" he said. "That cub's so tricky there's no knowing when he'll get
loose again." But Johnnie begged so hard that his father promised that
he might keep Tommy one more day.

Johnnie Green was in despair. He could not bear to have his pet
killed. And when he went to bed that night he never fell asleep at
all. He was very tired; but he managed to keep awake. And in the
middle of the night Johnnie got out of bed and put on his clothes. He
didn't dare to light his candle. But the moonbeams streamed in through
his little gable-window and Johnnie could see very well without any
other light.

As soon as he was dressed Johnnie stole down the stairs, carrying his
shoes in his hand, so he wouldn't make any noise. In spite of all his
caution, the old stairs would creak now and then. But luckily nobody
heard him; and soon Johnnie was out of the house.

He found Tommy Fox wide awake, sitting on his haunches in the
moonlight, listening. Far away in the distance a fox was barking and
Tommy thought it sounded like his mother's voice.

Tommy was surprised to see Johnnie Green at that hour. And he was
astonished when Johnnie untied the chain from the stake and started
away with him. They went off across the fields, toward Blue Mountain,
right in the direction of that barking.

The meadows smelled sweet; and Tommy Fox began to wish that he could
slip his head out of his collar and scamper away.

And that was exactly what happened.