Chapter 5
"Kid, the first rule of great tracking is to abandon all tall tales" Chief said, raising an eyebrow to the small little spaniel puppy before him. The puppy, Chipi, sighed "But I promise, I'm not making this up! I actually caught a quail, all on my own--I think".
"and you wrestled a full grown fox to the ground to get it" Chief said, unbelieving. "No!" Chipi sighed, exasperated, "I never said that" she added, "I said he grabbed it and--".
"Chipi" Chief broke in, "If you had really caught a quail that a fox was after it would have pounced on you in a flash, Either that or bolted at the first sight of your master. So if this really happened you'd either have scratches or the quail to prove it".
"If I had the quail, I wouldn't be telling you this story!" Chipi said. Copper laughed, "Well then, it's probably good you don't have it, then we would never have gotten a chance to hear of your adventure". Chief turned to the younger dog, "you don't mean to tell me you believe all this!" he said. Copper smiled over at him, "I've seen you swallow harder stories from old butch over at the general store".
Chief frowned and looked insulted, "Every word that proud dog says is true, and I'll thank certain young whipper snappers to keep their manners in check!" he said. Copper looked at Chief skeptically, "he swallowed a live 'coon and lived?!" he said, questioning one of the old dog's most notorious tales. Chief glanced at Copper out of the corner of his eye, "It could happen" he said.
Copper shook his head and turned his attention back to Chipi. He smiled at the little puppy. "Don't fret over one lost quail" he said, "Why tomorrow me and Chief just may be able to get you good enough to catch four of 'em in one night!". Chipi smiled up at Copper and wagged her tail, "You really think so?". Copper shrugged, "Sure, you were able to find one weren't you, and that was before any training".
Chipi grinned at Copper's encouragement, "Aw gee Mr. Copper" she said, "you're the best!". She hugged the dog's front leg. Copper smiled, "I told you, you don't have to call me mister" he said.
Meanwhile, Amos Slade was leaned back in his chair laughing so hard he was starting to tear up. Andy stood before him on the porch with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face, "You're really very encouraging Mr. Slade, ya know that!" he said. Amos continued laughing and then calmed down a bit, "I'm sorry boy" he said, "It's just--your first hunting trip and, a dead quail flew away from ya!".
Amos started laughing all over again as Andy's frown deepened. Suddenly the voice of an elderly lady rang out. "Amos Slade you leave that poor boy alone!" Widow Tweed commanded as she approached the porch. Amos sighed, "Now if that aint just like you, woman!" he said, "Showin' up and meddlin' in my business. I was just tellin' the boy here--".
"You weren't telling him anything!" Widow Tweed argued, "You were making fun of him after his first failed attempt! and you call yourself his mentor!". Amos rolled his eyes. Andy gave a slight smile at the widow's attempt to stick up for him, "Don't worry Mrs. Tweed, I understand how Mr. Amos is. I don't take any offense, he means well".
Widow Tweed huffed, "Well, your a kind hearted soul, Andy, and no mistake. Sticking up fer him when he just put you and that sweet puppy of yours down". At these words, Amos squinted at the widow suspiciously, "Speakin' of which" he said, "you aint been damaging this boy's future hunting dog, have ya?".
"Amos Slade, what are you talking about?!" Widow Tweed asked, throwing her hands up before putting them on her hips. Amos took the pipe from his mouth and pointed it at her, "You know what I mean. Coddling the little pup, just like you did to that stupid, good fer nothing, chicken thievin' fox of yours".
This time the widow pointed her finger, "Amos Slade, if you bring Tod into this argument!--". Andy stepped between the two adults, "Please!" he said. He turned to the widow, "Mrs. Tweed, I believe some of your fresh baked cookies and milk would help me get right to sleep after a night like this" he said, changing the subject. "What'ja say we head back to the house fer some".
The widow nodded and Andy quickly walked over and picked Chipi up before following the widow home. "Tomorrow Mr. Amos" he called, "we have all day for you to show me the error of my ways!". Amos raised his pipe in farewell to the boy, "look forward to it!" he said. Amos then looked confused as he tried to figure out exactly what he'd just said.
"Kid, the first rule of great tracking is to abandon all tall tales" Chief said, raising an eyebrow to the small little spaniel puppy before him. The puppy, Chipi, sighed "But I promise, I'm not making this up! I actually caught a quail, all on my own--I think".
"and you wrestled a full grown fox to the ground to get it" Chief said, unbelieving. "No!" Chipi sighed, exasperated, "I never said that" she added, "I said he grabbed it and--".
"Chipi" Chief broke in, "If you had really caught a quail that a fox was after it would have pounced on you in a flash, Either that or bolted at the first sight of your master. So if this really happened you'd either have scratches or the quail to prove it".
"If I had the quail, I wouldn't be telling you this story!" Chipi said. Copper laughed, "Well then, it's probably good you don't have it, then we would never have gotten a chance to hear of your adventure". Chief turned to the younger dog, "you don't mean to tell me you believe all this!" he said. Copper smiled over at him, "I've seen you swallow harder stories from old butch over at the general store".
Chief frowned and looked insulted, "Every word that proud dog says is true, and I'll thank certain young whipper snappers to keep their manners in check!" he said. Copper looked at Chief skeptically, "he swallowed a live 'coon and lived?!" he said, questioning one of the old dog's most notorious tales. Chief glanced at Copper out of the corner of his eye, "It could happen" he said.
Copper shook his head and turned his attention back to Chipi. He smiled at the little puppy. "Don't fret over one lost quail" he said, "Why tomorrow me and Chief just may be able to get you good enough to catch four of 'em in one night!". Chipi smiled up at Copper and wagged her tail, "You really think so?". Copper shrugged, "Sure, you were able to find one weren't you, and that was before any training".
Chipi grinned at Copper's encouragement, "Aw gee Mr. Copper" she said, "you're the best!". She hugged the dog's front leg. Copper smiled, "I told you, you don't have to call me mister" he said.
Meanwhile, Amos Slade was leaned back in his chair laughing so hard he was starting to tear up. Andy stood before him on the porch with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face, "You're really very encouraging Mr. Slade, ya know that!" he said. Amos continued laughing and then calmed down a bit, "I'm sorry boy" he said, "It's just--your first hunting trip and, a dead quail flew away from ya!".
Amos started laughing all over again as Andy's frown deepened. Suddenly the voice of an elderly lady rang out. "Amos Slade you leave that poor boy alone!" Widow Tweed commanded as she approached the porch. Amos sighed, "Now if that aint just like you, woman!" he said, "Showin' up and meddlin' in my business. I was just tellin' the boy here--".
"You weren't telling him anything!" Widow Tweed argued, "You were making fun of him after his first failed attempt! and you call yourself his mentor!". Amos rolled his eyes. Andy gave a slight smile at the widow's attempt to stick up for him, "Don't worry Mrs. Tweed, I understand how Mr. Amos is. I don't take any offense, he means well".
Widow Tweed huffed, "Well, your a kind hearted soul, Andy, and no mistake. Sticking up fer him when he just put you and that sweet puppy of yours down". At these words, Amos squinted at the widow suspiciously, "Speakin' of which" he said, "you aint been damaging this boy's future hunting dog, have ya?".
"Amos Slade, what are you talking about?!" Widow Tweed asked, throwing her hands up before putting them on her hips. Amos took the pipe from his mouth and pointed it at her, "You know what I mean. Coddling the little pup, just like you did to that stupid, good fer nothing, chicken thievin' fox of yours".
This time the widow pointed her finger, "Amos Slade, if you bring Tod into this argument!--". Andy stepped between the two adults, "Please!" he said. He turned to the widow, "Mrs. Tweed, I believe some of your fresh baked cookies and milk would help me get right to sleep after a night like this" he said, changing the subject. "What'ja say we head back to the house fer some".
The widow nodded and Andy quickly walked over and picked Chipi up before following the widow home. "Tomorrow Mr. Amos" he called, "we have all day for you to show me the error of my ways!". Amos raised his pipe in farewell to the boy, "look forward to it!" he said. Amos then looked confused as he tried to figure out exactly what he'd just said.