As softly as he could, the fox boy crept up behind the bush. He heard a scratching sound among the dried leaves. He saw more feathers, and something red.
“That’s the funny red thing that hangs down under a turkey’s chin,” said the fox boy to himself. “I am having good luck! Oh, if I can only jump on that bird before he hears or sees me and flies away!”
Nearer and nearer he crept. He could see the big bird now. It did not look exactly like the wild turkey.
“Maybe it’s a new and better kind,” thought Sharp Eyes. “If I get it I’ll bark for my father to come and see what good hunting I can do!”
Nearer and nearer he crept. The big bird which was picking up something from the ground under the bush, and scratching in the leaves, did not seem to hear.
“Ah ha!” whispered Sharp Eyes to himself. “Now for a good dinner for all of us!”
Through the air he jumped, and he landed with his front feet right on the big bird’s back.
“Burr-r-r-r-r!” barked Sharp Eyes, almost like a dog.
“Cock-a-doodle-do!” crowed the big bird, and then it was very still.
“Ah ha!” cried Sharp Eyes in fox talk, “I have caught you, my fine wild turkey!”
Then, with the big bird held tightly under his paws, the fox boy lifted his nose high in the air and howled and barked. That was his way of saying:
“Come and see what I have, Father! I’ve caught a fine wild turkey!”
Away off in the woods, where he was looking for something to eat, Mr. Fox heard the call of Sharp Eyes.
“Ah, I wonder if he is hurt, in danger, or if he has something for dinner,” said Mr. Fox to himself.
Mr. Fox listened carefully, and then by the difference in the howl and bark, he could tell what Sharp Eyes was saying. It was this:
“I have caught something! I have caught something!”
“Ah, my little fox boy has had good luck,” said Mr. Fox. “Better luck than I have had. I must go and see what he has caught!”
Not having found anything that he could take home for his family’s dinner, Mr. Fox turned and ran quickly through the woods toward Sharp Eyes. He could tell where his little fox son was by noticing the direction from which his howls and barks came.
“What is it?” asked Mr. Fox as he came near.
“I have caught a big wild turkey,” answered Sharp Eyes, still keeping the large bird between his paws.