HOW HE PAINTS. 55 



fox was the depredator that he collected them together, not 

 to adorn his seraglio, but for his larder. As legal proceed- 

 ings in this case could not he resorted to, the owners of the 

 fowls addressed themselves to the Jagare of the place, with the 

 prayer that the detected thief might for his misdeeds be made 

 to pay the forfeit of his life ; and in consequence of their press- 

 ing solicitations, a mechanic, thinking thereby to win the 

 favour of all the old ladies, as also that his Monday's holiday 

 could not be better employed, volunteered to act as executioner. 

 11 With this motive he put his gun in order, and betook 

 himself to the spot where the fox was wont to pass. Here 

 he concealed himself in some long grass at the back of a 

 high Gardesgard, and in anxious expectation awaited the 

 animal's appearance. Unluckily, however, it so happened 

 that the watcher himself presently fell into a profound slum- 

 ber. The fox, on the contrary, who, except on befitting 

 occasions, is seldom found napping, meanwhile pursued his 

 usual track to the town ; but when, with the intention of 

 crossing the fence in question, he had leapt on to the top of 

 it, and beheld his sleeping enemy, he was obliged to take a 

 terrific spring, in order to clear the body of the man. This 

 violent exertion, coupled with panic, was attended with dis- 

 astrous consequences to the unfortunate Jagare ; for, whilst 

 Michel was vaulting through space, he discharged such a 

 volley of disagreeable matter full into the face of our friend, 

 as not alone to rouse, but so to blind and bewilder him, that 

 he was unable to fire at the retreating foe. And it moreover 

 compelled him to return home forthwith, to perform the 

 needful ablutions the laughing-stock of everybody." 



VOL. II. E 3 



