Making no sound , for Reddy can step very lightly when he chooses to , he trotted quickly through the little swamp until he drew near the other side . Then he crouched close to the snow-covered ground and began to steal from bush to bush until he reached the trunk of a fallen tree on the very edge of the swamp . To this he crawled on his stomach and peeped around the end of it . Everything was as Blacky the Crow had said . Not far away was a farmyard , and walking about in it was a big rooster , lording it over a large flock of fat hens . They were not shut in by a wire fence as were Farmer Brown 's hens . Some were taking a sun bath just in front of the barn door . Others were scattered about , picking up bits of food which had been thrown out for them . A few were scratching in some straw in the cowyard . In the barn a horse stamped . From the farmhouse sounded the voice of a woman singing . Once the door of the farmhouse opened , and an appetizing odor floated out to tickle the nose of Reddy . Reddy looked sharply for signs of a dog . Not one could he see . If there was a dog , he must be either in the barn or in the house . It was quite clear to Reddy that no Fox had bothered this flock of fat hens . He was sorely tempted to rush out and grab one of them at once , but he did n't . He was far too clever to do anything like that until he was absolutely sure that it would be safe . So Reddy lay flat behind the old tree trunk , with just his nose and his eyes showing around the end of it , and studied what would be best to do . He was sure that he could get one of those fat hens , but he wanted more .
Early that morning XXXXX would have been quite contented with one , but now that he was sure that he could get one , he wanted more .
Blacky Brown Everything Fox Reddy cowyard door farmyard flock signs