[Gutenberg 1825] • The Adventures of Reddy Fox

Granny Fox said, "Now, Reddy Fox, you run across the bridge and watch from the top of the little hill over there. Perhaps I can show you a trick that will teach you why I have made you learn to run across the bridge." Reddy trotted across the long bridge and up to the top of the hill, as Granny had told him to. Pretty soon Reddy heard another sound. It was a long, low rumble. Then there was a distant whistle. It was a train. Suddenly Granny Fox started across the bridge so fast that she looked like a little red streak. Bowser the Hound dog was close at her heels when she started and he was so eager to catch her that he didn't see either the bridge or the train. Oh, my, no! When she had reached the other side, he wasn't halfway across, and right behind him, whistling for him to get out of the way, was the train. The hound gave one frightened yelp, and then he leaped down, down into the swift water below. "Now you know why I wanted you to learn to cross a bridge; it's a very nice way of getting rid of dogs," said Granny Fox, as she climbed up beside Reddy.