Atondido Stories
you dine." And Fox said, "You are very kind. I always like to eat
a Duck before my dinner." Rabbit knocked over the basket and
Fox quickly devoured poor Duck until not a feather remained.
And Rabbit laughed to himself and said, "Surely I am getting rid
of my customers very easily."
As Rabbit and Fox sat talking over old times in the forest,
they saw Bear coming lumbering up the path, tossing his head
from side to side, and sniffing the air. And Rabbit said, "Bear is
in a bad temper to-day. I wonder what can be the cause." And
Fox said, "This morning I stole all his honey and he saw me run-
ning away." "He scents you here," said Rabbit, "will he not kill
you if he finds you? Perhaps you ought to hide." "Yes, yes," said
Fox, "but where shall I hide?" "Hide in this box," said Rabbit, and
Fox sprang into the box, and Rabbit closed down the lid.
When Bear arrived he said gruffly, for he was in a bad tem-
per, "Good day, Rabbit. I have come for my corn and I must have
it quickly, for I must be on my way. It is the appointed time." "It
is indeed the appointed time," said Rabbit, "but first we shall
have dinner. It will be ready in a few minutes and I never let a
wayfarer leave my house without first taking nourishment. I
have to-day a dish of fresh fish which you like very well, and we
have never yet dined together." And Bear agreed to wait and his
gruffness left him at the thought of his good meal, for he was a
great fish-eater, and he talked pleasantly. Then Rabbit said, "I
have a secret to tell you. Let me whisper it." He put his mouth
close to Bear's ear and said, "Old Fox, the sly thief who stole all
your honey this morning is hiding in the box by your side. He
came here to boast about his theft and he laughed loudly to me
as he told me how easily you were cheated. He called you Lack-
Brains." Bear was very angry and at once he knocked the lid
from the box and killed Fox with one blow of his powerful paw.
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