bark not far away.

"There's Spot now!" Tommy said to himself. And he turned at once in
the direction of the barking. He was smiling, for he knew Spot would
be greatly pleased to see him, and very much surprised, too.

Tommy stole slyly up toward the place where the dog was barking. The
sound came from beyond some bushes. And Tommy thought he would jump
out from behind the bushes and startle Spot. So he crept up to the
bushes and then suddenly gave a yelp and leaped clean over them.

It was Tommy Fox himself who got the surprise. For there was a strange
dog! And as soon as he saw Tommy he sprang after him.

Tommy did not wait a second. He left that place a great deal faster
than he came. And as he went skimming over the fields, a red streak
against the brown stubble, he could hear Mr. Crow laughing heartily.
The old fellow had sailed along high over Tommy's head, to see what
happened; and he was greatly pleased with himself. You see, he knew
that Farmer Green's hired man had brought home a new dog just a few
days before, and Mr. Crow hoped that if Tommy went to the farm-yard he
would meet the strange dog.

Tommy was very angry. He saw at once that old Mr. Crow had tricked him
and he made up his mind that if he ever had a chance he would get even
with the old gentleman. But now he had no time to think about that.
There was that strange dog, following hot on his trail. Tommy had
quite enough to worry him, without bothering his head over Mr. Crow
just then.