176 THE FOX 



Or again, when the wolves had been destroyed : 



But yet alas the wily fox remained, 



A subtle pilfering foe prowling around 



In midnight shades and wakeful to destroy. 



In the full fold the poor defenceless lamb 



Seized by his guileful arts with sweet warm blood 



Supplies a rich repast. 



The fox is not quite such villain as he is painted, 

 and in England at least probably seldom actually 

 kills a healthy lamb. He often has the credit of 

 mischief done by wandering and licentious curs. So 

 that it is quite a pleasure to find that in Russian 

 fable the fox is a benevolent character, and works for 

 the benefit of the hero much as Puss-in-Boots or 

 Dick Whittington's Cat does. Perhaps, however, the 

 methods by which the fox brings fortune to Buhtan 

 in the Russian story, are more ingenious than moral. 

 Buhtan has but five kopeks. The fox changes them 

 into small coins and asks the Czar to lend him some 

 bushels to measure the money in. The bushels are 

 declared by the fox to be too small. The fox takes 

 care to leave a few coins at the bottom when the 

 bushels are returned. The Czar is struck, as he was 

 intended to be, with the riches of Buhtan. Then the 

 fox asks for the Czar's daughter as Buhtan's wife. 

 The Czar asks to see the proposed bridegroom. 



