as agrecable a husband as a Cat could find in a summer's day. If she marries me, well and good; she may have her property settled on herself:—if not, I shall bear her no malice; and I hope I sha'n't be too much in love to forget that there are other Cats in the world.' With that the Dog threw his tail over his back, and set off to his mistress with a gay face on the matter.

Now the Fox heard the Dog talking thus to himself for the Fox was always peeping about, in holes and corners; and he burst out a-laughing when the Dog was out of sight.

Ho, ho, my fine fellow! said he; not so fast, if you please: you 've got the Fox for a rival, let me tell you.'

Reynard was aware that in love one should always, if possible, be the first in the field; and he therefore resolved to get the start of the Dog and arrive before him at the Cat's residence. But this was no casy matter; for though Reynard could run faster than the Dog for a little way, he was no match for him in a journey of some distance. However,' said Reynard, 'those good-natured creatures are never very wise; and I think I know already what will make him bait on his way.'

With that, the Fox trotted pretty fast by a short cut in the woods, and getting before the Dog, laid himself down by a hole in the earth, and began to howl most piteously.

The Dog, hearing the noise, was very much alarmed; ‘See, now,' said he, if the poor Fox has not got himself into some scrape! Those cunning creatures are always in mischief; thank Heaven, it never comes into my head to be cunning!' And the good-natured animal. ran off as hard as he could to see what was the matter with the Fox. 'Oh dear!' cried Reynard; what shall I do, what shall I do! My poor little sister has fallen into this hole, and I can't get her out-she 'll certainly be smothered.' And the Fox burst out a-howling more piteously than before.

'But, my dear Reynard,' quoth the Dog very simply, 'why don't you go in after your sister?'

'Ah, you may well ask that,' said the Fox; 'but, in trying to get in, don't you perceive that I have sprained my back, and can't stir? Oh dear! what shall I do if my poor little sister is smothered!'

'Pray don't vex yourself,' said the Dog; 'I'll get her out in an instant and with that he forced himself with great difficulty into the hole.

Now, no sooner did the Fox see that the Dog was fairly in, than he rolled a great stone to the mouth of the hole, and fitted it so tight, that the Dog, not being able to turn round and scratch against it with his fore-paws, was made a close prisoner.

'Ha, ha!' cried Reynard, laughing outside; 'amuse yourself with my poor little sister, while I go and make your compliments to Mademoiselle the Cat.'

With that Reynard set off at an easy pace, never troubling his head what became of the poor Dog. When he arrived in the neighbourhood of the beautiful Cat's mansion, he resolved to pay a visit to a friend of his, an old Magpie that lived in a tree, and was well acquainted with all the news of the place.

[He told the Magpie as a great secret, knowing she would tell it all again, that her majesty the Lioness had fallen in love with him, and that his majesty the Lion had bribed him to leave the court, with three hairs from the fifth leg of the Amoronthologosphorus; and other lies, which the Magpie believed.]

The Fox then wished the Magpie good night, and retired to a hole in the neighbourhood to sleep off the fatigues of the day, before he presented himself to the beautiful young Cat.

The next morning, it was all over the place that Reynard the Fox had been banished from court for the favour shown him by her majesty; and that the Lion had bribed his departure with three

hairs that would make any lady whom the Fox married young and beautiful for ever.

The Cat was the first to learn the news, and she became all curiosity to see so interesting a stranger. She was not long without obtaining her wish. As she was taking a walk in the wood, the Fox contrived to encounter her. You may be sure that he made her his best bow; and he flattered the poor Cat with so courtly an air, that she saw nothing surprising in the love of the Lioness.

Meanwhile let us see what became of his rival, the Dog. When he found himself entrapped, he gave himself up for lost. In vain he kicked with his hind-legs against the stone--he only succeeded in bruising his paws; and at length he was forced to lie down, with his tongue out of his mouth, and quite exhausted. However,' said he, it won't do to be starved here, without doing my best to escape; and if I can't get out one way, let me see if there is not a hole at the other end.' Thus saying, his courage, which stood him in lieu of cunning, returned, and he proceeded on in the same straightforward way in which he always conducted himself. At first, the path was exceedingly narrow, and he hurt his sides very much against the rough stones that projected from the earth. But by degrees the way became broader, and he now went on with considerable case to himself, till he arrived in a large cavern, where he saw an immense Griffin sitting on his tail, and smoking a huge pipe.

The Dog was by no means pleased at meeting so suddenly a creature that had only to open his mouth to swallow him up at a morsel; however, he put a bold face on the danger, and, walking respectfully up to the Griffin, said, 'Sir, I should be very much obliged to you if you would inform me the way out of these holes into the upper world.'

The Griffin took the pipe out of his mouth, and looked at the Dog very sternly. Ho, wretch!' said he, how comest thou hither?