"Surely the fox won't venture to come up to the men," he thought.
But presently the fox came pattering along. He probably counted on the men taking him for a dog, for he went straight up to them.
"Whose dog can that be sneaking around here?" queried one. "He looks as though he were ready to bite."
The other paused and glanced back.
"Go along with you!" he said, and gave the fox a kick that sent it to the opposite side of the road. "What are you doing here?"
After that the fox kept at a safe distance, but followed all the while.
Presently the men reached a cabin and entered it. The boy intended to go in with them; but when he got to the stoop he saw a big, shaggy watch-dog rush out from his kennel to greet his master. Suddenly the boy changed his mind and remained out in the open.
"Listen, watch-dog!" whispered the boy as soon as the men had shut the door. "I wonder if you would like to help me catch a fox to-night?"
The dog had poor eyesight and had become irritable and cranky from being chained.
"What, I catch a fox?" he barked angrily. "Who are you that makes fun of me? You just come within my reach and I'll teach you not to fool with me!"