Mouse-eater! you can have a whole loft-full of such long-tailed vermin
as that, if you will come with us. But you must first solemnly swear
that you will never eat eggs instead of mice.'
"'Nothing on earth shall ever tempt me to touch an egg. I swear it most
solemnly,' said the fox, staring up into the tree. 'But whence do you
come, my worthy masters?'
"'We live at Hencastle, but no one knows where that is except the mice,
who eat us out of house and home.'
"'You don't say so,' said the fox from below, licking his lips. 'And are
there many more such handsome, magnificent birds as you are, at
Hencastle?'
"'Why, of course, the whole place is full of them.'
"'Then I'll come with you,' said the fox, lowering his eyes, lest the
cocks should discern the hungry look in them. 'And if there are a
thousand mice in the loft, they shall all soon lick the dust. Ah! you
don't know what delicious dainties such--mice--are.'
"This time the fowls had to wait till evening before they heard Mark,
the watchman, crowing from his chimney, and calling forth,
"'Here come the three!
But what do I see?
Why, the friend that they bring
Is a four-legged thing.'
"When the fox got to the outer wall, he sniffed about uneasily and
said,
"'I smell a dog, and I am not fond of the race, nor do they as a rule
like me.
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