There was no fat hen in that hollow ! Reddy could n't believe it . He would n't believe it . That fat hen just had to be there . He blinked his eyes some more and looked again . All he saw in that hollow stump was a feather . The fat hen had vanished . All Reddy 's dreams of a good dinner vanished too . A great rage took their place . Somebody had stolen his fat hen ! Reddy looked about him hurriedly and anxiously . There was n't a sign of anybody about , or that anybody had been there . Reddy 's anger began to give place to wonder and then to something very like fear . How could anybody have taken that fat hen and left no trace ? And how could a fat hen with a broken neck disappear of its own accord ? It gave Reddy a creepy feeling . CHAPTER XL WHERE WAS REDDY 'S DINNER ? Often it is better to look for a new trail than to waste time hunting for an old one . Bowser the Hound . Reddy Fox is used to all sorts of queer happenings .
Yes , Sir , he is used to all sorts of queer happenings , and as a rule XXXXX is seldom puzzled for long .
Bowser Fox Reddy accord dinner eyes left neck rage trace