Now, even if Tommy Fox was conceited, he was really a very bright
youngster. And as he bounded along he thought of a pretty clever
scheme. Yes, he thought of a fine trick to play on that dog. The idea
came to him all at once. And as soon as the thought popped into his
head, Tommy turned toward Swift River. He was at the bank in no time,
and he skipped nimbly down to the river's edge.

Tommy Fox could see no water at all running in Swift River. And you
might think he was disappointed. But he wasn't. He found exactly what
he had hoped for. He could see no water running, down there in the bed
of the river, because _the river was covered with ice._ It was just a
thin shell of ice; but it was strong enough to bear Tommy's weight. He
ran across it quickly. And then what do you suppose he did? He sat
right down on the opposite bank!

Tommy Fox wanted to see the fun. He had to wait only a minute. For
pretty soon the strange dog came rushing down the opposite bank of the
river and leaped far out from the edge of the stream.

There was a crash, and a splitting, crackling noise! And the strange
dog was floundering in the cold water. The ice was not thick enough to
hold him up, and he had hard work to scramble back to the bank again.
But he climbed out of the water at last, and tucked his tail between
his legs and made off.

Old Mr. Crow saw what happened. He stopped laughing. And he sailed
away silently, thinking that Tommy Fox was a pretty smart young cub,
after all.