ssing. As they are to be my guests, I must be the spokesman.
My friends have always thought me to be a very fine speaker. Many times
my advice has been asked. I have given it, and it paid my friends to
follow it. The thing which I shall advise to-morrow will surprise them,
but I feel sure that I can get my friends to follow it. I will set to
work now preparing for the feast."

Early the next evening Reynard gave a series of strange barks. This was
an invitation to his home. The foxes came from every direction and met
at the foot of an old oak.

Reynard's den was under this oak. He sat upon his haunches near the
door to welcome his guests as they came, but he did not move.

"You all know, friends, why I do not rise to welcome you," he said. "I
have been very sick, and if I move about it gives me a very bad
headache."

Reynard asked his friends, who were standing around him, what they had
been doing for the last week or so. They told many interesting stories
of how they had escaped from traps and dogs and men.

A pile of chickens, turkeys, and ducks lay in sight not far away. As
they talked, their eyes often wandered to these.

It grew late. The company became a little restless. At last Reynard
said:

"Now, friends, before we take our evening meal, I have something to say
for the good of all of us.

"I have been lying awake nights thinking what we could do to free
ourselves from the weight of our heavy tails. Spring is here with its
rainy weather. You all know how wet and muddy our tails become. Often I
have had to give up a first-class meal and trot off home, hungry, to
stay until my tail had dried. You have had to do the same. Many a poor
fox has lost his life because of his long tail.

"Now, what do you say to having our tails cut off? Think what free
lives we shall then lead. I will cut them off if you wish. The cutting
will be almost painless, I am sure. Now let us have them off in a hurry
before supper. After our feast, we shall have a great dance."

His visitors were silent for a moment. Some nodded their heads, showing
that they were ready to part with their tails.

The oldest and wisest fox in the crowd had been looking at Reynard very
closely. He was the only one of all that crowd to miss Reynard's tail.
At last he spoke slowly:

"Your advice may be good, but before I reply, pray turn yourself
around."

Poor Reynard saw that he was found out. He dared not refuse to do as he
was told, so he turne