Fox's Feud by Colin Dann Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Colin Dann
any point in our remaining here; it would be far better to return to our homes while we can.’
The other animals looked at him in astonishment. ‘We can’t just abandon him, Badger,’ said Weasel.
‘No, no. I shall go to them. A supposed show of force would only antagonize. They must know me as a reasonable sort of fellow and I shall go along with the argument that they owe Fox something for his efforts last winter in ridding the Park of poachers.’
‘That could be more of a hindrance than a help,’ warned Weasel. ‘Don’t you remember how the poachers shot some foxes in the hope that one of them might be our Fox – because he caused so much annoyance? Scarface might argue that Fox had been responsible for these deaths rather than doing anyone a service.’
But Badger was not to be put off. ‘At any rate,’ he insisted, ‘he was responsible for the capture of the poachers in the end by the Warden – and that was certainly a serviceable act for all the Park creatures. And, you see, I’m getting on in years now, and if anything should go wrong it’s far better that it fall on my head rather than any of yours. You’ve got families or are still young and – ’
‘Oh, Badger!’ cried Mole. ‘Let me come! Don’t go alone. Foxes won’t bother with me. I’m of no account. I can’t bear to think that anything might happen to you!’
Badger smiled at his adoring friend. ‘No, Mole, old fellow, it wouldn’t do. I’m very touched, but – well, I should be worrying about you all the time and that would be a bit of a hindrance, really, wouldn’t it?’
Mole knew there was no answer to that argument.
‘Now, everyone,’ Badger went on. ‘Please, all of you, go back home. Fox and I will come back all right – you’ll see. Friendly, you’d better give me directions.’
This done, the brave old creature smiled shyly at them all and shambled away, leaving them to watch his disappearance almost before they had begun to accept it. It was in all their minds that, now both of their accepted leaders had placed themselves at risk, who in future would speak for the animals of Farthing Wood should anything untoward occur?
Such was Badger’s faith in Fox’s abilities that he became more confident as he trotted along, thinking his thoughts. He had no doubts that Fox could outwit his opponent, given the opportunity. He also found it difficult to imagine even the unpleasant Scarface exhorting his clan to tear Fox to shreds in cold blood. His methods were usually of a secretive nature – a surprise attack, catching the victim unawares. He recalled how he himself with Tawny Owl had thwarted Scarface at Fox’s earth when the cubs had been much younger, and so had probably been blessed with his enmity ever since. But he was not afraid. Like all the animals of Farthing Wood, Badger was used to being on his guard – a habit induced by the greater dangers that had prevailed in their oldhome. So he was quite unprepared for the scene he found before him when he arrived at the spot.
Under a solitary Scots Pine, on which perched Tawny Owl and Kestrel, sat a very calm looking Fox. Facing him, and some yard or two away, stood Scarface and his assorted dependents. They were standing quite still. The space in the middle, between the two groups, was occupied by none other than the Great Stag, the leader of the White Deer herd which gave the Park its name. He seemed to be addressing all of them. No one noticed Badger coming along, so he too sat down a little way off, but near enough to hear what the Stag was saying . . .
‘In my view all the inhabitants of the Reserve owe something to the animals who came here from Farthing Wood. The humans who came poaching last winter amongst my herd were a danger to all creatures, not just us deer, and it was due to Fox’s bravery and resourcefulness, more than anything else, that the Park was finally rid of them.’
‘Not without some loss of life to my clan,’ Scarface
The other animals looked at him in astonishment. ‘We can’t just abandon him, Badger,’ said Weasel.
‘No, no. I shall go to them. A supposed show of force would only antagonize. They must know me as a reasonable sort of fellow and I shall go along with the argument that they owe Fox something for his efforts last winter in ridding the Park of poachers.’
‘That could be more of a hindrance than a help,’ warned Weasel. ‘Don’t you remember how the poachers shot some foxes in the hope that one of them might be our Fox – because he caused so much annoyance? Scarface might argue that Fox had been responsible for these deaths rather than doing anyone a service.’
But Badger was not to be put off. ‘At any rate,’ he insisted, ‘he was responsible for the capture of the poachers in the end by the Warden – and that was certainly a serviceable act for all the Park creatures. And, you see, I’m getting on in years now, and if anything should go wrong it’s far better that it fall on my head rather than any of yours. You’ve got families or are still young and – ’
‘Oh, Badger!’ cried Mole. ‘Let me come! Don’t go alone. Foxes won’t bother with me. I’m of no account. I can’t bear to think that anything might happen to you!’
Badger smiled at his adoring friend. ‘No, Mole, old fellow, it wouldn’t do. I’m very touched, but – well, I should be worrying about you all the time and that would be a bit of a hindrance, really, wouldn’t it?’
Mole knew there was no answer to that argument.
‘Now, everyone,’ Badger went on. ‘Please, all of you, go back home. Fox and I will come back all right – you’ll see. Friendly, you’d better give me directions.’
This done, the brave old creature smiled shyly at them all and shambled away, leaving them to watch his disappearance almost before they had begun to accept it. It was in all their minds that, now both of their accepted leaders had placed themselves at risk, who in future would speak for the animals of Farthing Wood should anything untoward occur?
Such was Badger’s faith in Fox’s abilities that he became more confident as he trotted along, thinking his thoughts. He had no doubts that Fox could outwit his opponent, given the opportunity. He also found it difficult to imagine even the unpleasant Scarface exhorting his clan to tear Fox to shreds in cold blood. His methods were usually of a secretive nature – a surprise attack, catching the victim unawares. He recalled how he himself with Tawny Owl had thwarted Scarface at Fox’s earth when the cubs had been much younger, and so had probably been blessed with his enmity ever since. But he was not afraid. Like all the animals of Farthing Wood, Badger was used to being on his guard – a habit induced by the greater dangers that had prevailed in their oldhome. So he was quite unprepared for the scene he found before him when he arrived at the spot.
Under a solitary Scots Pine, on which perched Tawny Owl and Kestrel, sat a very calm looking Fox. Facing him, and some yard or two away, stood Scarface and his assorted dependents. They were standing quite still. The space in the middle, between the two groups, was occupied by none other than the Great Stag, the leader of the White Deer herd which gave the Park its name. He seemed to be addressing all of them. No one noticed Badger coming along, so he too sat down a little way off, but near enough to hear what the Stag was saying . . .
‘In my view all the inhabitants of the Reserve owe something to the animals who came here from Farthing Wood. The humans who came poaching last winter amongst my herd were a danger to all creatures, not just us deer, and it was due to Fox’s bravery and resourcefulness, more than anything else, that the Park was finally rid of them.’
‘Not without some loss of life to my clan,’ Scarface