These sounds soon attracted the peasant’s attention, and he and his companions all fell upon the captive bear with every imaginable weapon, and proceeded to give him a sound beating.  Frantic with pain and terror, the unfortunate bear finally succeeded in wrenching himself free, at the cost of the skin on his nose and fore paws, and, after tumbling the fat cook into the water, swam down the stream and landed in a thicket to bewail his misfortunes.  Here he was found by the fox, who added insult to injury by making fun of him, and reproved him for his gluttony, until the bear again plunged into the stream and swam away.

[Illustration:  BROWN THE BEAR CAUGHT IN THE LOG.—­Wagner.]

Then, painfully making his way back to Nobel, Brown presented himself at court all bleeding and travel-stained, and poured forth a doleful account of his mission.

[Sidenote:  Reynard and the cat.] The king, after consulting with his principal courtiers, declared it the right of any man to be thrice summoned, and, conceding that the bear’s manners were not of a conciliatory nature, selected Hintze the cat to bear his message to Malepartus.  The cat, disheartened by unfavorable omens, was nevertheless compelled to go on this unwelcome journey.

Reynard welcomed him cordially, promised to accompany him to court on the morrow, and then asked what kind of refreshment he could offer.  When Hintze had confessed his preference for mice, the fox replied that it was very fortunate, as there were plenty of them in the parson’s barn.  Hintze immediately asked to be led thither, that he might eat his fill.

                        “’Pray do me the kindness
    Hence to lead and show me the mice, for far above wild game
    Give me a mouse for delicate flavor.’”

Reynard then conducted Hintze to the parson’s barn, and pointed out a little opening through which he had passed to steal chickens, and where he knew that Martin, the parson’s son, had laid a trap to catch any intruder.  Hintze at first demurred, but, urged by Reynard, crept in and found himself caught in a noose.  Reynard, pretending to take the cat’s moans for cries of joy, banteringly inquired whether that was the way they sang at court, as the caterwauling grew louder.

These sounds finally reached the ears of little Martin, who, accompanied by his father, came into the barn to catch the intruder.  Poor Hintze, frightened at the sight of the bludgeon the parson carried, flew at his legs, scratching and biting him, until the saintly man fainted.  Then, taking advantage of the confusion, Hintze managed to slip out of the noose and effect his escape.  He returned to court minus one eye, and there poured out the story of his wrongs.

[Sidenote:  Reynard and the badger.] The wrath of the king was now terrible to behold, and assembling his council, he bade them decide how he should punish the wretch who had twice ill treated his messengers.  Grimbart the badger, seeing that public opinion was decidedly against his relative, now begged that a third summons should be sent, and offered to carry the message himself.  He furthermore declared that, even according to their own showing, the cat and bear had come to grief through their greediness; and then he promptly departed.