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flames had arrived at the fox's pitch, he came out at the further end 

 neither milk-white as he expeftcd, nor fcorched to death as the fox 

 expefted, but half fuffocated, and without a pile of hair. The fox 

 who, while the bufmefs was depending, had been employed in ogling 

 the fawn, as foon as he faw his nephew appear not above half roafted, 

 thought it a convenient time to decamp. The fawn, caught by the kind- 

 nefs of the wolf, omitted to improve a thoufand opportunities which 

 the wolf's weaknefs afforded her, to effeft an efcape. The moonsr 

 kept their pace, the wolf gained ftrength, the fawn grew in ftature, 

 and their confidence in each other encreafed. The wolPs friends ob- 

 ferving the fawn's growth, and the wide range he permitted her to 

 , take, taxed the wolf with his imprudence. " Do you imagine," cries 

 the wolf, " I am weak enough to think that this fawn which I 

 have reared up to deer's eflate, in habits of obedience, will after fo 

 *' much experience of me, dare to play tricks ? your fears make you 

 " feed upon half-grown fkeletons, and tremble at fliadows. I judge better j 

 " If I let a day pafs, after this rav/boned fawn fliall have added flefh 

 " to ftature, then impeach my wifdom." The wiflaed-for day at length 

 arrived, and all the beafts and birds were fummoned to partake of 

 the wolf's feaft, the fox alone excepted. The wolf confulted them 

 about the diftribution of the parts. To one the tongue was affigned, 

 to another the heart, to another the hoofs, and by common confent the 

 dung was allotted to the turkey-buzzard. The deer alarmed at the 

 debates, feeling her llrength, and recollefting the fate of many a hind 

 and Caribou of her own plump qualities, fuddenly betook herfelf to 

 flight: and juft as the council had completed the divifion of her limbs, 

 the news was brought that flie had been feen ufing them very nimbly 

 in bounding acrofs the plain, and was at that moment entering the woods. 

 " She is taking her accuftomed range," cries the wolf," it is her daily 

 praftice, fhe will prefently return." The panther advifed fpeedy mea- 

 fures, and oifered his fervices ; the bear and his friends were afraid 

 to trufl him ; the hare took the fearful fide. Thus, while the wolf 

 indulged his hopes, and others their jealoufies, the time for an cffe(flual 



Q 2 purfuit 



