after paddy muskrat and his wife talked to her about sunstrokes, the muley cow tried to keep in the shade during the rest of the day.
toward evening, who should come trotting out of the woods but tommy fox. when he noticed the muley cow (as he soon did, for the wind told him where she was) he turned aside to speak to her. he inquired carefully about her health, said that he hoped she was enjoying the fine weather, and remarked finally that he was glad he met her because it would save him a trip to the farmyard. "that is," tommy added, "if you don't mind carrying a message for me."
the muley cow had always heard that the fox family was terribly sly and tricky. still, tommy was most polite. really, she didn't like to say no.
he saw that she couldn't quite say yes. "it doesn't matter," he told her carelessly. "there's the little red cow over there. i know she'll be glad to oblige me."
that was just the thing to make the muley cow want to do his errand.
"i'm sure i should be delighted to accommodate you," she told tommy fox. "give me your message. and when i go home this evening i'll deliver it."
"it's for the young gobbler, turkey proudfoot," tommy fox explained. "please tell him that a gentleman wishes to meet him by the stone wall to-night, as soon as it grows dark."
"very well!" said the muley cow. "i'll tell turkey proudfoot that i saw you and i'll give him your message."
"oh! please don't mention my name!" tommy fox begged her. "just say, 'a gentleman.' you see, it's to be a surprise.... you know everybody likes surprises," he added, as he grinned at the muley cow in the most innocent way.
she remembered that she had liked surprises herself when she was younger. so she agreed to give turkey proudfoot the message exactly as tommy fox had told it to her.
and she did. when milking time came, and johnnie green and old dog spot drove the cows home, down the long lane that led to the barn, and the muley cow saw turkey proudfoot strutting about the farmyard, she told him something. she told him that a slim, red gentleman with a bushy tail and a sharp nose wanted to see him near the stone wall at nightfall. "he has a surprise for you," she added.
the moment he heard the message turkey proudfoot's tail drooped and he forgot to strut. he even shook slightly, as if something had frightened him. and then, to the muley cow's astonishment, he began to gobble at her.
"you ought to be ashamed of yourself—trying to get me into trouble with tommy fox!" he scolded.
the muley cow was still more amazed. she hadn't mentioned tommy fox's name; and she couldn't understand how turkey proudfoot had guessed who the gentleman was. besides, she wondered why turkey proudfoot was angry. tommy fox was such an agreeable person that she felt sure he must have planned a very pleasant surprise.
it appeared that turkey proudfoot had quite a different notion. it was so different that he didn't even dare to roost in the tree in front of the barn that night, but crowded right into the henhouse. the hens made a great fuss and ordered him out. but he simply wouldn't take the hint.
