l see. I'll come and eat you in your den."

Next day, when the Jackal had gone into the forest to find food, our
friend the Fish jumped out of the water, and went roll, roll, rolling
into the forest, until she came to the den of the Jackal; and inside the
door of the Jackal's den she stood on her tail, waiting for him to come
back. By-and-by back came the Jackal, sure enough; but Jackals are very
cunning creatures, and he came up slinking quietly, and saw the Fish
before the Fish saw him. So he called out in a loud voice, "Den, Den!"

No answer. Again he called out, "Den, Den!" This time the Fish thought
that the Den was no doubt accustomed to reply when the Jackal called to
it. Perhaps it was shy because she was present. Anyhow she thought she
had better answer, so she called out in return, "Well, well!"

"You there?" asked the Jackal.

"Yes, I'm here all right," answered the Fish.

"Just stop a minute," said the Jackal, "and I'll be back directly."

Away he ran, and the Fish crept inside the hole, and hid. The Jackal ran
about gathering dry leaves, and with the leaves he made a little pile at
the mouth of his hole. Then he went to a fire which some traveller had
left smouldering, and seizing a brand, he brought it and set light to
the leaves at the mouth of the cave. The fire soon burned up.

"Is that nice, dear Den?" asked the Jackal.

"Very nice, thank you," said the Fish, who thought she must go on
pretending.

"I'll soon make you warm," said the Jackal, and he piled on more fuel.
It began to get very hot.

"That's enough now," said the Fish.

"No, no, Den dear," said the cunning Jackal, laughing
to himself. More and more leaves he piled on the top
of the fire. One side of the Fish got so hot that she
turned the other. Then it got hotter and hotter, and
soon the Fish expired. When the fire went out, the
Jackal looked into the cave, and there was the Fish,
done on both sides crisp and brown. He sat
down on his haunches, and gobbled her
up in a trice, and he never had a
nicer dinner. That was the
end of the foolish and
ungrateful Fish.

[Illustration]

The Clever Goat

A SHEPHERD was feeding his flock on the hills; and as they were going
home again in the evening, one of the goats lagged behind. Now, this
Goat was very old, and goats are not like men, for the older they gr