Page:History of the Black Douglas.pdf/19

Rh he returned to the Scottish camp, What he had done?

"We have drawn some blood."

"Ah," said the Earl, "had we gone all together to the night attack, we would have discomfited them."

"It might well have been so," said Douglas, "but the risk would have been too great."

"Then will we fight them in open battle," said Randolph, "for if we remain here, we shall in time be famished for want of provisions."

"Not so," replied Douglas; "we will deal with the great army of the English as the fox did with the fisherman in the fable."

"And how was that?" said the Earl of Murray.—Here the Douglas told him this story:—

"A fisherman," he said "had made a hut by a river side, that he might follow his occupation of fishing. Now, one night he had gone out to look after his nets, leaving a small fire in his hut; and when he came back, behold there was a fox in the cabin, taking the liberty to eat one of the finest salmon he had taken. 'Ho, Mr. Robber!' said the fisherman, drawing his sword, and standing in the door-way to prevent the fox’s escape; 'you shall presently die the death. The poor fox looked for some hole to get out at, but saw none, whereupon he pulled down with his teeth a mantle, which was lying on the bed, and dragged it across the fire. The fisherman ran to snatch his mantle from the fire—the fox flew out at the door with the salmon;—and so will we escape the