Pagina 262 di 274

A Fowler caught a Partridge in his nets, and was just about to

wring its neck when it made a piteous appeal to him to spare its

life and said, "Do not kill me, but let me live and I will repay

you for your kindness by decoying other partridges into your

nets." "No," said the Fowler, "I will not spare you. I was going

to kill you anyhow, and after that treacherous speech you

thoroughly deserve your fate."

THE RUNAWAY SLAVE

A Slave, being discontented with his lot, ran away from his

master. He was soon missed by the latter, who lost no time in

mounting his horse and setting out in pursuit of the fugitive. He

presently came up with him, and the Slave, in the hope of

avoiding capture, slipped into a treadmill and hid himself there.

"Aha," said his master, "that's the very place for you, my man!"

THE HUNTER AND THE WOODMAN