All was as still and peaceful as could be . Little Joe Otter 's trout lay shining in the moonlight . The big head of cabbage lay just where Peter Rabbit and Jumper the Hare had left it . Reddy Fox rubbed his eyes to make sure that he was not dreaming and that the plump chicken and the duck were not there too . Just then Bowser the Hound , over at Farmer Brown 's , bayed at the moon . Reddy Fox always is nervous and by this time he was so fidgety that he could n't stand still . When Bowser the Hound bayed at the moon Reddy Fox jumped a foot off the ground and whirled about in the direction of Farmer Brown 's house . Then he remembered that Bowser the Hound is always chained up at night , so that he had nothing to fear from him . After listening and looking a moment Reddy Fox decided that all was safe . `` Well , '' said he to himself , `` I 'll have that fat trout anyway , '' and turned to get it . But the fat trout he had seen a minute before shining in the moonlight had also disappeared . Reddy Fox looked and looked until his eyes nearly popped out of his head . Then he did what all cowards do -- ran home as fast as his legs could carry him . Now of course Billy Mink did n't find Bobby Coon , and when he came back up the Lone Little Path he was very tired , very hungry and very cross . And of course Jimmy Skunk failed to find the nest of Mrs. Grouse , and Little Joe Otter could find no trace of the shining big sucker among the rushes beside the Smiling Pool . They also were very tired , very hungry and very cross . When the three returned to the Lone Pine and found nothing there but the big head of cabbage , which none of them liked , the empty egg shells of old Gray Goose and Jerry Muskrat 's clams , they straightway fell to accusing each other of having stolen the duck and the fat trout and the eggs and began to quarrel dreadfully . Pretty soon up came Peter Rabbit and Jumper the Hare , who had failed to find the tender young carrots . And up came Jerry Muskrat , who had found no luscious sweet apples . `` Where is Reddy Fox ? ''
asked Peter XXXXX .
's Bowser Brown Coon Muskrat Otter Rabbit Skunk minute night