

WOODMYTH & FABLE 



though they were nothing. Large num- 

 bers were bred, and soon each community 

 had at least one. Before long, however, 

 the new beasts developed an unpleasant 

 nature. Their original meekness began to 

 disappear. They became surly, then dan- 

 gerous; at last they had to be pampered 

 and pacified on all occasions. They still 

 did a great deal of the heaviest work, but 

 became so tyrannical and outrageous in 

 their demands that each community was 

 reduced to a state of slavery, and its mon- 

 ster terrorized all and owned everything, 

 quickly destroying those who resisted him. 

 There was never a more downtrodden 

 people. Things were as bad as pos- 

 sible, when a naturalist, one day, as he 

 walked in the woods and pondered this 

 terrible condition, said: 



** ' In my world every beast has his foe 



