awoke with a yawn and stretched out his claws.

"What do you want?" said he, looking up.

"I wish you to help me to get rid of that hateful goose, dear Furrier."

"I am afraid of the king," replied the cat.

"You needn't, you will be quite safe. I have a cunning plan, but I
need your help, and I will reward you well."

[Illustration: CRAFTICUS. "I have a cunning plan."]

Crafticus then told his plan, and Purrier agreed and went out to meet
the goose, while the fox lay down in a low broad box, as if fast asleep.

* * * * *

"Hail, Stupidify, lovely fat goose," cried Furrier, when he met her and
saw her by the light of the moon.

"Joy be with you, dear sooty cat."

"Has Crafticus provided any food for you to-day?"

"Not a single speck, and I have been searching till now and have
scarcely got any--this place is new to me, as you know."

"Oh my poor dear goose, how sorry I am."

And hearing this she sat down and screamed.

"Arise and assert your rights," said Purrier, "and I will help you.
Let us go together to Crafticus, and if he be as careless about your
bed as about your food, you just scream and scream till you get what
you want."

So they went along side by side, and when they entered the barn and
looked into the box, Crafticus appeared to be in a deep sleep, but he
was only pretending.

Purrier leaped in softly and lay beside him. "Oh this is cold," said
he. Then he went to the other side and lay down. "Oh, this is cold
also," and he rose up shivering. Then he poked his paw under the fox
and whispered--"Ha, ha, this is warm. The selfish fellow--it is just
like him to choose the warmest spot. Come and judge for yourself, poor
neglected Stupidify."

The goose jumped in clumsily and fell on her fat breast. Then she
poked her beak under Crafticus and found it to be as the cat had said.
It never struck her that the heat came from the fox's own body.

"Now, demand your rights," said Purrier, "demand a share of the
comfortable spot," and he went away and lay down among the dried grass.

"I want my rights," cried the goose, in the fox's ear.

"What?" said Crafticus, rubbing his eyes.

"I want my rights, I want you to move."

"You have got your rights and double your rights. You can rest on
either side of me and I have only the centre."

"I want my share of the warm part."

"How can the centre be warmer than the sides?"

"Let me try," said the goose.

"All