The Race
Now there began a desperate race, the machines against the foxes. In the beginning, the hill looked like a hill. After about an hour, as the machines bit away more and more soil from the hilltop, it looked like a big hole.
Sometimes the foxes would gain a little ground and the clanking noises would grow fainter and Mr. Fox would say, "We're going to make it! I'm sure we are !"
But then a few moments later, the machines would come back at them and the crunch of the mighty shovels would get louder. Once the foxes actually saw the sharp metal edge of one of the shovels as it scraped up the earth just behind them.
"Keep going, my darlings!" panted Mr. Fox. "Don't give up!"
"Keep going!" the fat Boggis shouted to Bunce and Bean. "We'll get him any moment now!"
"Have you caught sight of him yet?" Bean called back.
"Not yet," shouted Boggis. "But I think you're close!"
The farmers didn't stop for lunch, they wanted to catch the foxes.
"Hey there, Mr. Fox!" Yelled Bunce, leaning out of his tractor, "We're coming to get you now!"