Can't see ourselves as others see.

     —Old Granny Fox.

“Just as I thought,” muttered Reddy Fox as he peeped through the bushes on the bank of the Big River and saw Quacker swimming about in the water where it ran too swiftly to freeze. “We've got just as much chance of catching¹ him as I have of jumping over the moon. That's what I'll tell Granny.”

 

He crept back carefully so as not to be seen by Quacker, and when he had reached the place where Granny was waiting for him, his face wore a very impudent² look.

 

“Well,” said Granny Fox, “what shall we do to catch him?”

 

“Learn to swim like a fish and fly like a bird,” replied Reddy in such a saucy³ tone that Granny had hard work to keep from boxing his ears.

 

“You mean that you think he can't be caught?” said she quietly.

 

“I don't think anything about it; I know he can't!” snapped Reddy. “Not by us, anyway,” he added.

 

“I suppose you wouldn't even try?” retorted Granny.

 

“I'm old enough to know when I'm wasting my time,” replied Reddy with a toss of his head.

 

“In other words you think I'm a silly old Fox who has lost her senses,” said Granny sharply.

 

“No-o. I didn't say that,” protested Reddy, looking very uncomfortable.

 

“But you think it,” declared Granny. “Now look here, Mr. Smarty, you do just as I tell you. You creep back there where you can watch Quacker and all that happens, and mind that you keep out of his sight. Now go.”

 

Reddy went. There was nothing else to do. He didn't dare disobey. Granny watched until Reddy had readied his hiding-place. Then what do you think she did? Why, she walked right out on the little beach just below Reddy and in plain sight of Quacker! Yes, Sir, that is what she did!

 

Then began such a queer performance that it is no wonder that Reddy was sure Granny had lost her senses. She rolled over and over. She chased her tail round and round until it made Reddy dizzy to watch her. She jumped up in the air. She raced back and

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