Page:Folk Tales of Beasts and Men.djvu/95

tell the truth, was not sorry of an excuse to break a fast of many hours. "What have you got for dinner?"

"What would you like?" asked Reynard. "Shall we say a comb of honey?"

"Bah!” cried the Cat. "Honey indeed! I loathe the stuff. Now if you had a nice fat mouse . . . !"

"Happy thought," said Reynard. "As it happens, I know a house close by where there are hundreds of mice, the fattest and sleekest creatures you ever saw in your life, and so tame that one can literally scoop them up by the score. I often catch a few myself when I am hungry and other game is scarce."

"Take me to this house," said Tybert. "Tame or not, I'll catch the mice if they are there. I love the creatures." And he licked his lips and stretched out his paws.

"TAKE ME TO THIS HOUSE"

Now Reynard had spoken the truth when he said that he knew a house where mice abounded, and it was true also that he often went there—not in search of mice, but of chickens. The last time he had paid a visit he had found that the farmer had put a string noose over the hole by which he was used to enter, but fortunately for himself Reynard had discovered it in time.

Towards this house he now led the unsuspecting Tybert, and having shown him the hole, bade him enter and take his fill of the mice. Tybert obeyed, but no sooner had he got his head through the hole than the trap was sprung, and there he was, caught. He gave a scream of pain and fear, and from behind Reynard answered mockingly: "Sing away, cousin. I love to hear your voice. But mind you don't frighten the mice!" Then he took to his heels and ran back to his castle.