Bowser the Hound . To in-vest-i-gate something means to try to find out about it . Reddy Fox had heard from so many different ones about the disappearance of Bowser that he finally made up his mind that he would in-vest-i-gate and find out for himself if it were true that Bowser was no longer at home in Farmer Brown 's dooryard . If it were true , -- well , Reddy had certain plans of his own in regard to Farmer Brown 's henhouse . Reddy had begun by doubting that story because it seemed to have come first from Old Man Coyote . Reddy would doubt anything with which Old Man Coyote was concerned . But Reddy had finally come to believe that something certainly had happened because half a dozen times during the day he had heard Farmer Brown 's boy whistle and whistle and call and call . Just as soon as the Black Shadows came creeping out from the Purple Hills , Reddy started up towards Farmer Brown 's . He did n't go directly there , because he never goes directly anywhere if there is the least chance in the world that any one may be watching him . But as he slipped along in the blackest of the Black Shadows , he was all the time working nearer and nearer to Farmer Brown 's dooryard . Although he was inclined to think it was true that Bowser was not there , he was far too wise to take any unnecessary risk . He approached Farmer Brown 's dooryard just as carefully as if he knew Bowser to be in his little house as usual . He kept in the Black Shadows . He crouched so low that he seemed hardly more than a Black Shadow himself . Every two or three steps he stopped to look , listen , and test the air with his keen nose . As he drew near Bowser 's own little house , Reddy circled out around it until he could see the doorway . Then he sat down where he could peek around from behind a tree and watch . He had been there only a few moments when the back door of Farmer Brown 's house opened and Farmer Brown 's boy stepped out . Reddy did n't run . He knew that Farmer Brown 's boy would never dream that he would dare come so near .
Besides , it was very clear that Farmer Brown 's boy was thinking of no one but XXXXX .
Bowser Brown Coyote Fox Hills Reddy dooryard first henhouse peek