Page:Tales of old Lusitania.djvu/86

74 to partake together, while she would provide the materials. The heron offered to make the broth in his own particular way, and prepared it in a long narrow-necked vessel, knowing that the fox could not drink out of it, and then inserting his long beak into the vessel greedily drank up all the broth and then very coolly turned to the fox and said: "As you have been kind enough to invite me to such a feast, I shall return you the invitation by asking you to a marriage feast which is to take place in heaven."

"But how am I to get up there?" replied the fox.

"Oh, that's easily done. Get on my back, and I'll carry you there."

They accordingly began their flight; but before long the heron grew tired, and finding the weight of the fox insupportable, he jerked her off his back. As the fox was falling to the ground she mournfully cried out:

On the ground where the fox fell there stood a large stone, and, just as she was falling upon it, she cried out, "Move out of the way, or I'll split you with my weight."

But as she fell upon the edge of the stone she was killed instantaneously.

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