“How?” asked Sharp Eyes eagerly.
“This way,” said the hippo. “They often let me out in the yard to walk around, for I am quite tame now. The next time I am out I will bump into your cage as if by accident. I am so big and strong, and your cage is so weak, that it will not take a very hard bump to break it. When I break it, and I’ll do it without hurting you, you can run out and go back to your woods.”
“Oh, thank you!” barked Sharp Eyes. “I’ll do that! Please break open my cage and let me out as soon as you can.”
And Chunky did. A few days later, when he was in the yard back of his cage, wandering about and eating hay, he strolled over to the cage of the fox.
“Watch out now, Sharp Eyes,” said the hippo. “I am going to bump against you. Good-bye, when you get out. Think of me sometimes and give my love to Tum Tum, Don or any of my friends you see.”
“I will,” said the fox.
The next minute the big hippo bumped sharply against the fox cage. [There was a crash], a splintering of wood, [and Sharp Eyes sprang out]. The silver fox was running away.