And, saying this, he seized the poor goose by the thick feathers on her white breast and gave her a dreadful shake. But the goose was a strong bird. She tore her sleeve out of the fox’s grasp and gave him such a terrible blow on the snout with her wing that it nearly blinded him, and obliged him to sit down for a few seconds to wipe his eyes with his tail.

While the fox was thus engaged, the hen ran into a corner where her chickens gathered round her and said, “Quee! quee! quee! oh, dear me! chikalum-kee! what’s to be done, mother? where shall we go?”

The poor hen was terribly frightened; but she endeavoured to look calm, and said, “Do not fear, my little ones. Keep under my wings, and if Mister Fox comes, I will try to defend you. Even if he does kill me, I think he will spare you.”

On hearing this the chicks were comforted, and nestled under their mother’s soft wings. Meanwhile, the fat sow stood gasping in another corner of the yard, to which she had fled, followed by her little pigs.