134 FAVOURITE FABLES.

least, did as the Fox required her; and threw him down now
one of her eggs, and then one of her young ones. Having
done so, for some time, with a great deal of grief and sorrow,
and the Fox continuing still to demand it of her, she, at last,
made her complaint to the Raven, who chanced to come and
perch herself on the same tree; grievously bemoaning her
fate, that she, like a good mother, to provide for her children,
was at last obliged to make them a sacrifice to such a villain.
But the Raven, who was not so timorous as she, advised her,
whenever the Fox threatened her again, that he would kill
both her and her young, if she would not throw one of them
down to him, to answer him roundly,—‘‘If you could have
flown or climbed up the tree, you would not have been so
often contented with one of my eggs, or of my young; but
would, long since, according to your ravenous and blood-

2

thirsty nature, have devoured both me and them.”’ In short,
‘the next time the Fox came, and threatened her as before,
she replied as the Raven had instructed her.

The Fox, hearing her answer, and knowing very well that
she was not so wise and cunning of herself, resolved to find
out the truth of the matter; and, at length, came to under-
stand that it was the Raven who had been her counsellor.
He, therefore, vowed to be revenged on her, who had now,
the second time, hindered him from getting his prey. Not
long after, he espied her sitting on a high thorn-tree; and,
going to her, began to praise her at a mighty rate,—