188 COSSACK FAIRY TALES.

came again, and said: “Dear little cock, open the
door!” —No, little fox! Pussy said I wasn’t
to.” But the fox begged and begged so piteously
that, at last, the cock was quite touched, and
opened the door. Then the fox caught him by
the throat again, and ran away with him, and the
cock cried —
“ 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 gave chase again. He ran
and ran, but this time he couldn’t catch the fox up ;
so he returned home and wept bitterly, because he
was now all alone. At last, however, he dried his
tears and got him a little fiddle, a little fiddle-bow,
and a big sack, and went to the fox’s hole and began
to play—

« Fiddle-de-dee !
The foxy so wee
Had daughters twice two,

. And a little son too,
Called Phil.—Fiddle-dee !
Come, foxy, and see
My sweet minstrelsy

1?

Then the fox’s daughter said: ‘“‘Mammy, Pll go