The big rooster on the topmost perch stretched his long neck , flapped his wings , and crowed at the top of his voice . Reddy shivered . `` It wo n't be long now before Farmer Brown 's boy comes , '' thought he . CHAPTER XVII FARMER BROWN 'S BOY DROPS A PAN OF CORN Who when surprised keeps calm and cool Is one most difficult to fool . Bowser the Hound . In his lifetime Reddy Fox has spent many anxious moments , but none more anxious than those in which he waited for Farmer Brown 's boy to open the henhouse and feed the biddies on this particular morning . From the moment when the big rooster on the topmost perch stretched forth his neck , flapped his wings , and crowed as only he can crow , Reddy was on pins and needles , as the saying is . Hiding behind a box in the darkest corner of the henhouse , he hardly dared to breathe . You see , he did n't want those hens to discover him . He knew that if they did they would make such a racket that they would bring Farmer Brown 's boy hurrying out to find out what the trouble was . Reddy had had experience with hens before . He knew that if Farmer Brown 's boy heard them making a great racket , he would know that something was wrong , and he would come all prepared . This was the one thing that Reddy did not want . His one chance to escape would be to take Farmer Brown 's boy entirely by surprise . Never had time dragged more slowly . The hens were awake , and several of them flew down to the floor of the henhouse . They passed so close to where Reddy was hiding that merely by reaching out a black paw he could have touched them . Because he took particular pains not to move , not even to twitch a black ear , they did not see him . Anyway , if they did see him , they took no notice of him . How the moments did drag !
All the time he lay there listening , wishing that Farmer XXXXX 's boy would come , yet dreading to have him come .
Bowser Brown Fox Reddy corner escape henhouse hens morning perch