Now Johnny Chuck was round and fat and rolly-poly , and when one is round and fat and rolly-poly , one 's breath is apt to be short . So it was with Johnny Chuck . He had fought so hard that his breath was nearly gone . Finally he loosed his hold on Reddy Fox for just a second to draw in a good breath . Reddy Fox saw his chance , and , with a quick pull and spring , he broke away . How all the little meadow people did scatter ! You see they were very brave , very brave indeed , so long as Johnny Chuck had Reddy Fox down , but now that Reddy Fox was free , each one was suddenly afraid and thought only of himself . Jimmy Skunk knocked Jerry Muskrat flat in his hurry to get away . Billy Mink trod on Great-Grandfather Frog 's big feet and did n't even say `` Excuse me . '' Striped Chipmunk ran head first into a big thistle and squealed as much from fear as pain . But Reddy Fox paid no attention to any of them . He just wanted to get away , and off he started , limping as fast as he could go up the Lone Little Path . Such a looking sight ! His beautiful red coat was in tatters . His face was scratched . He hobbled as he ran . And just as he broke away , Johnny Chuck made a grab and pulled a great mouthful of hair out of the splendid tail Reddy Fox was so proud of . When the little meadow people saw that Reddy Fox was actually running away , they stopped running themselves , and all began to shout : `` Reddy Fox is a coward and a bully ! Coward ! Coward ! ''
Then they crowded around Johnny XXXXX and all began talking at once about his great fight .
Chuck Coward Fox Mink Muskrat Path first second tatters thistle