gan, 'Do let me in, dear Blacky. I have
brought you a present of some eggs that I picked up in a farmyard on my
way here.'

[Illustration]

'No, no, Mister Fox,' replied Blacky, 'I am not going to open my door to
you. I know your cunning ways. You have carried off poor Browny and
Whitey, but you are not going to get me.'

At this the fox was so angry that he dashed with all his force against
the wall, and tried to knock it down. But it was too strong and
well-built; and though the fox scraped and tore at the bricks with his
paws he only hurt himself, and at last he had to give it up, and limp
away with his fore-paws all bleeding and sore.

'Never mind!' he cried angrily as he went off, 'I'll catch you another
day, see if I don't, and won't I grind your bones to powder when I have
got you in my den!' and he snarled fiercely and showed his teeth.

Next day Blacky had to go into the neighbouring town to do some
marketing and to buy a big kettle. As he was walking home with it slung
over his shoulder, he heard a sound of steps stealthily creeping after
him. For a moment his heart stood still with fear, and then a happy
thought came to him. He had just reached the top of a hill, and could
see his own little house nestling at the foot of it among the trees. In
a moment he had snatched the lid off the kettle and had jumped in
himself. Coiling himself round he lay quite snug in the bottom of the
kettle, while with his fore-leg he managed to put the lid on, so that he
was entirely hidden. With a little kick from the inside he started the
kettle off, and down the hill it rolled full tilt; and when the fox came
up, all that he saw was a large black kettle spinning over the ground at
a great pace. Very much disappointed, he was just going to turn away,
when he saw the kettle stop close to the little brick house, and in a
moment later Blacky jumped out of it and escaped with the kettle into
the house, when he barred and bolted the door, and put the shutter up
over the window.

'Oho!' exclaimed the fox to himself, 'you think you will escape me that
way, do you? We shall soon see about that, my friend,' and very quietly
and stealthily he prowled round the house looking for some way to climb
on to the roof.

In the meantime Blacky had filled the kettle with water, and having put
it on the fire, sat down quietly waiting for it to boil. Just as the
kettle was beginning to sing, and steam to come out of the spout, he
heard a soun