The Horse, the Wolf, and the Fox
A fox one night had been out some hours in the snow in search of food, and yet had found none. At last he met a wolf in the same case, to whom he said, “Do you see the horse in that field? Well, I think if you lend me your help, I could kill him.” When they came up to the horse, the fox was much struck to find how small his size was by the side of him. “May I ask your name, and that of the man who owns you?” “My name is Squire,” said the horse. “I have not yet heard the man’s name, but I think if you wish to know it you can see the stamp on my shoe.” The sly fox, who made a shrewd guess at what this meant, said, “Nay, I do not know how to read, but”—here he gave a low bow to the wolf—“my friend has a gift that way.” The wolf, who was made quite vain by this soft speech, came up to read, but as he bent down his head to do so, Squire gave a kick which clave his skull in two.
Take the nuts out of the fire with the cat’s paw.