“Dear brothers, it is time that we paused and thought more carefully about our sins.  We must cross seas and rivers, and Heaven knows when we shall reach the end of our journey.  Let us listen to one another’s confessions, for I am sure we have all been miserable sinners.  Come, Mr. Cock, come into the cave with me and I will hear you first.”

The Cock followed her into the cave, saying with some surprise, “Why, Madame Fox, what have I done that is wicked?”

“Do you not know?” answered the Fox sternly.  “Why, do you not begin to crow at midnight and wake poor tired people out of their first sleep?  Go to!  You ought to be ashamed!  Then again you crow at the most inconveniently early hour in the morning and make the caravans mistake the true time, so that they start upon their journeys long before the proper hour and fall into the hands of robbers who prowl about before light.  These are dreadful sins, Mr. Cock, and you deserve to be punished.”  So the wicked old Fox seized the Cock and ate him all up.

After the Fox had finished him she came to the entrance of the cave and called, “Now you come, little Dove, and tell me what you have done that is naughty.”

“But I have done nothing,” said the innocent Dove, wondering very much; “of what evil do you accuse me, Madame Fox?”

“When the farmers sow their grain you dig up the yellow kernels and eat them for your dinner.  That is stealing, which is a wicked, wicked sin, and must be severely punished,” cried the hungry Fox.  And thereupon she seized the poor little Dove and ate her up.

Once more the Fox stood at the door of the cave, stealthily licking her chops, and she called out to the Duck, “Come in, Mr. Duck, and I will hear what you have to say.”

“Well, I have not done anything wrong,” said the Duck positively, “and you cannot say that I have; can you now, Madame Fox?”

“Oh, indeed and indeed!” exclaimed the Fox.  “Have you not stolen the king’s gold crown, and do you not wear it on your head, you wicked creature?”

“Indeed and indeed I have done no such thing.  It is not true, Madame Fox, as I can prove.  Wait a bit and I will bring witnesses.”

So the Duck went out and flew up and down in front of the cave, waiting.  Presently along came a Hunter with a gun, who espied the Duck and aimed the weapon at him.

“Don’t shoot me,” cried the Duck.  “What have you against me, O Hunter?  I can tell you where to find worthier game.  Come with me and I will show you a wicked old Fox who eats innocent birds.”

“Very well,” said the Hunter, putting up his gun, “show me the place and I will spare you.”

The Duck led him softly to the entrance of the cave, and pausing there cried out to the Fox inside, “Come out, Madame Fox, I have brought the witness.”

“Let him come in, let him come in!” cried the Fox, for she had grown very hungry indeed and hoped for a double meal.