How Raccoon Outwitted Fox

Raccoon sat up in a tree, near the lake where Bear had lost his tail.

Raccoon had seen Fox play his sneaky trick on Bear, and he did not like it.

It's very well known that Fox and Raccoon had played many tricks on each other.

Fox is getting a big head, said Raccoon. This must not be. His head must be made smaller.

Some of that craftiness must be taken out of him. He's getting too, too foxy. He thinks he has the cunning of all the animals, and that no one can outwit him. I think it's time that someone plays a trick on him. Not many days later, raccoon saw a fox coming down the trail.

Raccoon was eating some juicy yellow apples that he found on a tree not far away.

As soon as he saw fox, he ran up a tree, and he began to smack his lips,

just had fox had done before to tempt bear with the fish.

Mmm, mm-mm, mm.

Delicious apples.

What tastes so good? asked Fox.

Raccoon responded by throwing a fresh, juicy apple right down to Fox.

Fox looked at the apple and took a bite out of it.

Mmm!

Delicious, sweet, juicy, said Fox, when he finished the last mouthful,

where did you get it?

Raccoon told Fox how to find the apple tree.

He must follow the trail along the river, down the pine bluff, then he must climb the bluff, and run towards the setting sun until he came to an open field.

In the center of that field stood a great apple tree, and it was filled with juicy yellow apples.

But raccoon, you can climb the tree and pick your own apples.

How can I get them off the branches? complained Fox.

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