nning to grow old, and had rather
lie at my ease before the fire than run about the house after the
mice, my mistress laid hold of me, and was going to drown me, and
though I have been lucky enough to get away from her, I know not how I
am to live."

"Oh!" said the ass, "by all means go with us to Bremen. You are a good
night-singer, and may make your fortune as one of the waits."

The cat was pleased with the thought, and joined the party. Soon
afterwards, as they were passing by a farmyard, they saw a cock
perched upon a gate, screaming out with all his might and main.

"Bravo!" said the ass. "Upon my word, you make a famous noise. Pray,
what is all this about?"

"Why," said the cock, "I was just now telling all our neighbours that
we were to have fine weather for our washing-day; and yet my mistress
and the cook don't thank me for my pains, but threaten to cut my head
off to-morrow, and make broth of me for the guests that are coming on
Sunday."

"Heaven forbid!" said the ass. "Come with us. Anything will be better
than staying here. Besides, who knows, if we take care to sing in
tune, we may get up a concert of our own, so come along with us."

"With all my heart," replied the cock; so they all four went on
jollily together towards Bremen.

They could not, however, reach the town the first day, so when night
came on they turned off the high-road into a wood to sleep. The ass
and the dog laid themselves down under a great tree, and the cat
climbed up into the branches; while the cock, thinking that the higher
he sat the safer he should be, flew up to the very top of the tree,
and then, according to his custom, before he sounded his trumpet and
went to sleep, looked out on all sides to see that everything was
well. In doing this he saw afar off something bright, and calling to
his companions, said--

"There must be a house no great way off, for I see a light."

"If that be the case," replied the ass, "we had better change our
quarters, for our lodging here is not the best in the world."

"Besides," said the dog, "I should not be the worse for a bone or
two."

"And may be," remarked the cat, "a stray mouse will be found
somewhere about the premises."

So they walked off together towards the spot where the cock had seen
the light; and as they drew near, it became larger and brighter, till
they came at last to a lonely house, in which was a gang of robbers.

The ass, being the tallest of the company, mar