The Cat and the Fox

Once a Cat and a Fox were travelling together. As they went along, picking up provisions on the way — a stray mouse here, a fat chicken there —  they began exchanging stories about times they’d escaped hunters to while away the time. And, as sometimes happens when friends talk, it turned into an argument and the talk began to get personal.

“You think you are extremely clever, don’t you?” said the Fox. “I’m much cleverer than you - I have many escape tricks at hand!”

“Well,” retorted the Cat, “I have only one, but it is, let me tell you, worth all yours combined!”

Just then, close by, they heard a hunter’s horn and the yelping of a pack of hounds. In an instant the Cat was up a tree, hiding among the leaves.

“This is my trick,” the Cat called to the Fox. “Now let me see which one of yours you are going to use.”

But the Fox had so many plans for escape he could not decide which one to try first. He dodged here and there with the hounds at his heels. He doubled on his tracks, he ran at top speed, he entered a dozen burrows — but all in vain. The hounds caught him, and soon put an end to the boaster and all his tricks.

Use common sense, and keep your plans simple and effective.