
The Fox and the Wood-Cutter.A Fox, running before the hounds, came across a Wood-cutter felling anoak, and besought him to show him a safe hiding-place. The Wood-cutteradvised him to take shelter in his own hut. The Fox crept in, and hidhimself in a corner. The Huntsman came up, with his hounds, in a fewminutes, and inquired of the Wood-cutter if he had seen the Fox. Hedeclared that he had not seen him, and yet pointed, all the time he wasspeaking, to the hut where the Fox lay hid. The Huntsman took no noticeof the signs, but, believing his word, hastened forward in the chase. Assoon as they were well away, the Fox departed without taking any noticeof the Wood-cutter; whereon he called to him, and reproached him,saying: "You ungrateful fellow, you owe your life to me, and yet youleave me without a word of thanks." The Fox replied: "Indeed, I shouldhave thanked you most fervently, if your deeds had been as good as yourwords." From Aesop's Fables |