Pagina 259 di 274

The Fox was much mortified, and the Lion, too, was dreadfully

disappointed, for he was getting very hungry in spite of his

illness. So he begged the Fox to have another try at coaxing the

Stag to his den. "It'll be almost impossible this time," said the

Fox, "but I'll try"; and off he went to the wood a second time,

and found the Stag resting and trying to recover from his fright.

As soon as he saw the Fox he cried, "You scoundrel, what do you

mean by trying to lure me to my death like that? Take yourself

off, or I'll do you to death with my horns." But the Fox was

entirely shameless. "What a coward you were," said he; "surely

you didn't think the Lion meant any harm? Why, he was only going

to whisper some royal secrets into your ear when you went off

like a scared rabbit. You have rather disgusted him, and I'm not

sure he won't make the wolf King instead, unless you come back at

once and show you've got some spirit.