Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 23, 1912.djvu/245

Rh consents, and soars away to the Royal Park, where the King's daughter is taking a promenade among the roses and flowers. The bird seizes her, and soon the astonished maiden finds herself in the midst of a company of wild beasts, but where she is treated with the greatest consideration, especially by Mr. Fox, who puts on airs and uses many polite expressions to reassure her.

This day the Prince had shot eight birds, and on his homeward way he was wondering what new creature might have come to enjoy his hospitality. Then how great was his astonishment when he was met by the whole company, the Fox fawning, and caressing him more than his wont, and being escorted by them to his tent, to behold there the Princess, his lady-love ! And how great was the joy of both!

When the King heard of his daughter's capture, he sent four armed men to the forest to recover her. The Fox sees them from afar, and makes ready for them. He sends the bear and the wolf to destroy three of them, leaving one to return to the King with the news of the disaster.

The King then sends eight warriors to rescue the Princess. The Fox sends the lion and the leopard to meet them, and instructs them to kill seven, leaving one again to return to the King. This time the King prepared an army to send to the forest. The Fox foresees this, and, mounting his Throne, he exhorts the Beasts each to go to his own kindred and bring them to fight against the army.

The day following, as the Prince is returning from the chase, he finds the whole forest is full of wild beasts, but his particular friends have them in charge, and lead them to him, and the Fox explains the situation.

On the morrow the army approaches, the wild beasts attack them, and the army is destroyed. Then the Beasts take their Master, and seat him upon the throne at the Capital. The Fox becomes Prime Minister, and the other beasts are the Ministers. Thus good fortune comes to them all.

Three apples fell from heaven.