FAVOURITE FABLES. 79

PABLE> LVill,

THE ASS AND THE LION HUNTING.

Tue Lion took a fancy to hunt in company with the Ass;
and, to make him the more useful, gave him instructions
to hide himself in a thicket, and then to bray in the most
frightful manner that he could possibly contrive. ‘ By. this
means,” says he, “you will rouse all the beasts within
hearing of you, while I stand at the outlets and take
them as they are making off.’ This was done; and the
stratagem took effect accordingly. The Ass brayed most
hideously, and the timorous beasts, not knowing what to
make of it, began to scour off as fast as they could; when
the Lion, who was posted at a convenient ve seized and
devoured them as he pleased.

Having got his belly full, he called out to the ne and
bid him leave off braying, as he had had enough.. Upon
this the lop-eared brute came out of his. ambush, and,
approaching the Lion, asked him, with an air of conceit,
“how he liked his performance.’’ ‘“ Prodigiously,’’ says he;
“you did it so well, that I protest, had I not known your
nature and temper, I might have been frightened myself.”