Page:A Bayard from Bengal.djvu/179

Rh Had anyone met the Red Herring in the sea and foretold that he would one day be pursued by Hounds across a difficult country, the Herring would have accounted him but a vain babbler.

Yet so it fell out!

An Officious Busybody, perceiving a Phœnix well alight, promptly extinguished her by means of a convenient watering-pot.

"Had you refrained from this uncalled for interference," said the justly irate Bird, "I should by this time be rising gloriously from my ashesinstead of presenting the ridiculous appearance of a partially roasted Fowl!"