Bowser the Hound . Never in his life had Reddy Fox visited Farmer Brown 's henhouse with quite such a comfortable feeling as he now had . He knew for a certainty that Bowser the Hound was not at home . He knew because he had finally crept up and peeped in the door of Bowser 's little house . What had become of Bowser he did n't know , and he did n't care . It was enough to know that he was n't about . `` I hope Farmer Brown 's boy has forgotten to close that little doorway where the hens run in and out , '' muttered Reddy , as he trotted across Farmer Brown 's dooryard . Once he stopped , and looking up at the lighted windows of the house , grinned . You see , with Bowser gone , Reddy was n't the least bit afraid . `` If I can get into that henhouse , '' thought Reddy , `` I certainly will have one good feast to-night . That is , I will if those stupid hens are not roosting so high that I ca n't get them . I 'll eat one right there . '' Reddy 's mouth watered at the very thought . `` Then I 'll take one home to Mrs. Reddy . If there is time we both will come back for a couple more . '' So Reddy made pleasant plans as he approached Farmer Brown 's henhouse . When he reached it he paused to listen to certain sounds within , certain fretful little cluckings . Reddy sat down for a minute with his tongue hanging out and the water actually dripping from it . He could shut his eyes and see those roosts with the hens crowded together so that every once in a while one would be wakened and fretfully protest against being crowded so . But Reddy sat there only for a minute .
He was too eager to find out if it would prove to be possible to get inside that XXXXX .
Bowser Brown Reddy cluckings dooryard henhouse minute right roosts to-night