disgrace. It isn't without
reason that they say: 'The work ought to be in the master's power.'"

"Why really, gossip, what a tremendous affair it is! Mice, indeed!
Why, I have been in the habit of catching perches!"

"Oh, very well. Come along!"

They went; they lay each in ambush. The Cat thoroughly enjoyed itself;
made a hearty meal; then went to look after its comrade. Alas! the
Pike, almost destitute of life, lay there gasping, its tail nibbled
away by the mice. So the Cat, seeing that its comrade had undertaken a
task quite beyond its strength, dragged it back, half dead, to its pond.

Trishka's Caftan

Trishka's caftan was out at the elbows. But why should he ponder long
over it? He took to his needle, cut a quarter off each sleeve: so
mended the elbows.

The caftan was all right again, only his arms were bare for a quarter
of their length. That is no great matter, but every one is always
laughing at Trishka. So Trishka says:

"I'm not a fool. I'll set this affair straight also. I'll make the
sleeves longer than they were before. They shall see Trishka is no
mere commonplace fellow."

So he cut off the skirts of his caftan, and used them to lengthen his
sleeves.

Then Trishka was happy, though he had a caftan which was as short as a
waistcoat.

In a similar way I have sometimes seen other embarrassed people set
straight their affairs. Take a look at them as they dash away. They
have all got on Trishka's caftan.

The Elephant as Governor

An Elephant was once appointed ruler of a forest. Now it is well known
that the race of elephants is endowed with great intelligence; but
every family has its unworthy scion. Our Governor was as stout as the
rest of his race are, but as foolish as the rest of his race are not.
As to his character, he would not intentionally hurt a fly. Well, the
worthy Governor becomes aware of a petition laid before him by the
Sheep, stating that their skins are entirely torn off their backs by
the Wolves.

"Oh, rogues!" cries the Elephant, "what a crime! Who gave you leave to
plunder?"

But the Wolves say:

"Allow us to explain, O father. Did not you give us leave to take from
the Sheep a trifling contribution for our pelisses in winter? It is
only because they are stupid sheep that they cry out. They have only a
single fleece taken from each of them, but they grumble about giving
even that!"

"Well, well," says the Elephant, "take care what y