“Oho, brother,” said the bear, laughing fit to kill himself; “who ever saw a fox hanged by the tail before?”
“You’ll have need of a physician,” quoth Doctor Ape.
“A pretty match, indeed; a griffiness for such a creature as you!” said the goat, strutting by him.
The fox grinned with pain, and said nothing. But that which hurt him most was the compassion of a dull fool of a donkey, who assured him with great gravity that he saw nothing at all to laugh at in his situation!
“At all events,” said the fox, at last, “cheated, gulled, betrayed as I am, I have played the same trick to the dog. Go and laugh at him, gentlemen; he deserves it as much as I can, I assure you.”
“Pardon me,” said the griffin, taking the pipe out of his mouth; “one never laughs at the honest.”
And indeed the dog had, after much effort, gnawed the string in two, and extricated his paw; the scent of the fox had enabled him to track his footsteps, and here he arrived, burning for vengeance and finding himself already avenged.
But his first thought was for his dear cousin. “Ah, where is she?” he cried movingly; “without doubt that villain Reynard has served her some scurvy trick.”
“I fear so indeed, my old friend,” answered the griffin; “but don’t grieve,--after all, she was nothing particular. You shall marry my daughter the griffiness, and succeed to all the treasure; ay, and all the bones that you once guarded so faithfully.”
“Talk not to me,” said the faithful dog. “I want none of your treasure; and, though I don’t mean to be rude, your griffiness may go to the devil. I will run over the world, but I will find my dear cousin.”
“See her then,” said the griffin; and the beautiful cat, more beautiful than ever, rushed out of the cavern, and threw herself into the dog’s paws.
A pleasant scene this for the fox! He had skill enough in the female heart to know that it may excuse many little infidelities, but to be boiled alive for a griffin’s soup--no, the offence was inexpiable.
“You understand me, Mr. Reynard,” said the griffin, “I have no daughter, and it was me you made love to. Knowing what sort of a creature a magpie is, I amused myself with hoaxing her,--the fashionable amusement at court, you know.”
The fox made a mighty struggle, and leaped on the ground, leaving his tail behind him. It did not grow again in a hurry.