11 A Surprise for Mrs Fox
The Small Fox ran back along the tunnel as fast as he could, carrying the three plump¹ hens. He wasexploding with joy. ‘Just wait!’ he kept thinking, ‘just wait till Mummy sees these!’ He had a longway to run but he never stopped once on the way and he came bursting in upon Mrs Fox. ‘Mummy!’
he cried, out of breath. ‘Look, Mummy, look! Wake up and see what I’ve brought you!’
Mrs Fox, who was weaker than ever now from lack of food, opened one eye and looked at thehens. ‘I’m dreaming,’ she murmured and closed the eye again.
‘You’re not dreaming, Mummy! They’re real chickens! We’re saved! We’re not going to starve!’
Mrs Fox opened both eyes and sat up quickly. ‘But, my dear child!’ she cried. ‘Where on earth . .
.?’
‘Boggis’s Chicken House Number One!’ spluttered the Small Fox. ‘We tunnelled right up underthe floor and you’ve never seen so many big fat hens in all your life! And Dad said to prepare a feast²!
They’ll be back soon!’
The sight of food seemed to give new strength to Mrs Fox. ‘A feast it shall be!’ she said, standingup. ‘Oh, what a fantastic fox your father is! Hurry up, child, and start plucking³ those chickens!’
Far away down in the tunnel, the fantastic Mr Fox was saying, ‘Now for the next bit, my darlings!
This one’ll be as easy as pie! All we have to do is dig another little tunnel from here to there!’
‘To where, Dad?’
‘Don’t ask so many questions. Start digging!’

11　狐狸太太吃了一惊
小狐狸带着那三只肥母鸡，以最快的速度沿着地道向回跑去。他高兴得要命。“等着瞧吧！”他不停地思忖着，“妈妈看到这个还不知会怎么样哪！”他跑的路很远，可是他在路上一次也没有停。他突然来到了狐狸太太的跟前。“妈妈！”他气喘吁吁地喊道，“看呀，妈妈，看呀！快醒醒，看看我给你带什么来了！”
狐狸太太由于没东西吃，身体比以前更虚弱了。她睁开一只眼睛看着那些母鸡。“我是在做梦吧。”她喃喃自语道，接着就又闭上了眼睛。
“你不是在做梦，妈妈！这真的是鸡！我们得救了！我们不会被饿死了！”

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