m going to try
my luck as a street musician in the city. I think we might easily earn
a living by music. You can play the bass drum and I can play the
flute."

"I will go," said the dog, and they both walked on together.

Not long after they saw a cat sitting in the road, with a face as
dismal as three days of rainy weather.

"Now what has happened to you, old Whiskers?" said the donkey.

"How can I be happy when I am in fear for my life?" said the cat. "I
am getting old, and my teeth are only stumps. I cannot catch mice any
longer, and I like to lie behind the stove and purr. But when I found
that they were going to drown me, away I ran as fast as my four legs
could carry me. But now that I have come away, what am I to do?"

"Go with us to the city," said the donkey. "You often give night
concerts, I know, so you can easily become a street musician."

"With all my heart," said the cat, so she walked on with them.

After travelling quite a long distance the three "runaways" came to a
farmyard, and on the gate stood a rooster, crowing with all his
might.

"Why are you standing there and making such a fuss?" said the donkey.

"I will tell you," replied the rooster. "I heard the cook say that
there is company coming on Wednesday and she will want me to put into
the soup. That evening my head will be cut off, so I shall crow at the
top of my voice as long as I can."

"Listen, Red Comb," said the donkey. "Would you like to run away with
us? We are going to the city, and you will find something better there
than to be made into soup. You have a fine voice, and we are all
musicians."

The rooster was glad to go, and all four went on together.

They could not reach the city in one day, and evening came on just as
they reached a wood, so they agreed to stay there all night.

The donkey and the dog lay down under a large tree, the cat stretched
herself out on one of the branches, and the rooster flew to the top,
where he felt quite safe.

Before they slept the rooster, who from his high roost could see every
way, spied far off a tiny light, and calling to his comrades told them
he thought they were near a house in which a light was shining.

"Then," said the donkey, "we must rouse up and go on to this light,
for no doubt we shall find a good stopping-place there."

The dog said he would be glad of a little piece of meat, or a couple
of bones if he could get nothing more.

Very soon they were on their way to t