186 COSSACK FAIRY TALES.

Across her tail
My legs do trail
Along the bridge so stony!”

The cat heard it, gave chase to the fox, rescued the
cock, brought him home, scolded him well, and said :
“ Now keep out of her jaws in the future, if you don’t
want to be killed altogether !”

Then the cat went out foraging for wheat, so that
the cock might have something to eat. He had
scarcely gone when the sly she-fox again came
creeping up. “‘ Dear little cock!” said she, “ pray
open the door!”—“Nay, little fox! Pussy said
I wasn’t to.” But the fox went on asking and
asking till at last the cock let him in. Then the
fox rushed at him, seized him by the neck, and ran
off with him. Then the cock cried out—

“Help! pussy-pussy !
That foxy hussy
Has got me tight
With all her might.
Across her tail
My legs do trail
Along the bridge so stony!”

The cat heard it, and again he ran after the fox
and rescued the cock, and gave the fox a sound drub-
bing. Then he said to the cock: ‘Now, mind you
never let her come in again, or she'll eat you.”

But the next time the cat went out, the she-fox