Fear and despair took the place of contentment and happy anticipations . He was a prisoner inside that henyard . Frantically Reddy rushed over to the gate . There was n't even a crack through which he could thrust his sharp little nose . Then , beside himself with fear , he raced around that henyard , seeking a hole through which he might escape . There was n't any hole . That fence had been built to keep out such people as Reddy Fox , and of course a fence that would keep Reddy out would also keep him in , if he happened to be caught inside as he now was . He could n't dig down under it , because , you know , the ground was frozen hard and covered with snow and an icy crust . He was caught , and that was all there was to it . Suddenly Reddy became aware of some one just outside the wire fence , looking in and grinning wickedly . It was Old Man Coyote . Between them was nothing but that wire , but , oh , what a difference ! Reddy was inside and a prisoner . Old Man Coyote was outside and free . `` Good evening , Reddy , '' said Old Man Coyote . `` I hope you 'll enjoy your chicken dinner . When you are eating it , just think over this bit of advice : Never take a risk when you can get some one else to take it for you . I would like a chicken dinner myself , but as it is , I think I will enjoy a Mouse or two better . Pay my respects to Farmer Brown 's boy when he comes in the morning . '' With this , Old Man Coyote once more grinned that wicked grin of his and trotted away towards the Green Forest .
XXXXX watched him disappear and would have given anything in the world to have been outside the fence in his place instead of inside , where he then was .
Brown Coyote Forest Fox Reddy boy course escape henyard morning