work in a wood and begged his assistance to some hiding-place. The man said he
might go into his cottage, which was close by.
He was no sooner in than the huntsmen came up. "Have you seen a Fox pass this
way?" said they. The Countryman said "No," but pointed at the same time
toward the place where the Fox lay. The huntsmen did not take the hint,
however, and made off again at full speed.
The Fox, who had seen all that took place through a chink in the wall, thereupon
came out and was walking away without a word.
"Why, how now!" said the Countryman, "haven't you the manners to thank your
host before you go?"
"Nay, nay," said the Fox; "if you had been as honest with your finger as you
were with your tongue, I shouldn't have gone without saying good-bye."
Belling the Cat
A certain Cat that lived in a large country house was so vigilant and active in the
performance of her duties that the Mice, finding their numbers grievously
thinned, held a council with closed doors to consider what they had best do.
Many plans had been started and dismissed, when a young Mouse, rising and
catching the eye of the President, said that he had a proposal to make that he was
sure must meet with the approval of all. "If," said he, "the Cat should wear
around her neck a little bell, every step she took would make it tinkle; then, ever
forewarned of her approach, we should have time to reach our holes. By this
simple means we should live in safety and defy her power."
The speaker resumed his seat with a complacent air, and a murmur of applause
arose from the audience.
An old gray Mouse, with a merry twinkle in his eye, now got up and said that the
plan of the last speaker was an admirable one, but he feared it had one drawback.
He had not told them who should put the bell around the Cat's neck!