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 . Reddy 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 . CHAPTER XV REDDY 'S FORLORN CHANCE This saying is both true and terse : There 's nothing bad but might be worse . Bowser the Hound . If any one had said this to Reddy Fox during the first half hour after he discovered that he was a prisoner in Farmer Brown 's henyard , he would n't have believed it . He would n't have believed a word of it . He would have said that he could n't possibly have been worse off than he was . He was a prisoner , and he could n't possibly get out .
He knew that in the morning Farmer XXXXX 's boy would certainly discover him .
Bowser Brown Coyote Forest Fox REDDY first henyard hour morning