Страница 99 из 626

When day broke, and the battle was to begin, all the four-footed

animals came running up with such a noise that the earth

trembled. The willow-wren with his army also came flying through

the air with such a humming, and whirring, and swarming that

every one was uneasy and afraid, and on both sides they advanced

against each other. But the willow-wren sent down the hornet,

with orders to settle beneath the fox's tail, and sting with all

his might. When the fox felt the first string, he started so that

he lifted one leg, from pain, but he bore it, and still kept his

tail high in the air; at the second sting, he was forced to put

it down for a moment; at the third, he could hold out no longer,

screamed, and put his tail between his legs. When the animals saw

that, they thought all was lost, and began to flee, each into his

hole, and the birds had won the battle.