Page:Redcoat (1927).djvu/109

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casions Scottie, the farm dog, always accompanied the man. The dog could drive the cattle as well as the man could, and this rather surprised Redcoat, for he had characterized Scottie as stupid because he had eluded him so many times while thieving about the farm buildings.

In the late fall, when it was getting cold, the man and the dog came out and drove the cattle away, and put them in one of the farm buildings, the barn to be exact. So Redcoat, after the way of a fox, knew that the stupid animals belonged to the man, just as the dog did.

The fox often passed very close to these animals who were always chewing grass. Redcoat thought that very foolish, because grass was only good to eat when one was sick. But, these creatures ate it all the time. When it was very hot, these animals came up into the woods and lay in the shade. Then the fox could spy upon them at will. He had often noted that when Scottie drove the cattle he barked and that made them hurry. Really, it was a very interesting