end," said the ogress in alarm. "Shall I
throw you down first?" said the fox. "Certainly, friend." Then the fox
threw the ogress down the well, and then entered the ogress' palace. Don
Joseph Pear followed the fox, with his wife, his father-in-law, and all
the riders. The fox showed them through all the apartments, displaying
the riches, Don Joseph Pear contented at having found his fortune, and
the king still more contented because his daughter was so richly
settled. There was a festival for a few days, and then the king, well
satisfied, returned to his own country and his daughter remained with
her husband. One day the fox was looking out of the window, and Don
Joseph Pear and his wife were going up to the terrace. Don Joseph Pear
took up a little dust from the terrace and threw it at the fox's head.
The fox raised her eyes. "What is the meaning of this, after the good I
have done you, miserable fellow?" said she to Don Joseph. "Take care or
I will speak!" The wife said to her husband: "What is the matter with
the fox, to speak thus?" "Nothing," answered her husband. "I threw a
little dust at her and she got angry." Don Joseph took up a little more
dust and threw it at the fox's head. The fox, in a rage, cried: "Joe,
you see I will speak! and I declare that you were the owner of a
pear-tree!" Don Joseph was frightened, for the fox told his wife
everything; so he took an earthen jar and threw it at the fox's head,
and so got rid of her. Thus--the ungrateful fellow that he was--he
killed the one who had done him so much kindness; but nevertheless he
enjoyed all his wealth with his wife.[11]

* * * * *

The story we shall next consider is, in some of its versions, legendary
in its nature, and might more properly, perhaps, have been treated in
chapter IV. Its legendary character, however, is only accidental, and it
really belongs to the class of stories discussed in the present chapter.
The story in general maybe termed "The Thankful Dead," from the most
important episode in it. The hero shows some respect to a corpse (paying
the debts it incurred when alive, and so obtaining the right of burial
for it), the soul of which becomes the hero's good fairy, and assists
him when in danger, and finally brings about his good fortune. Around
this nucleus have gathered various episodes, which will be mentioned in
the notes. As an example of this story, we give, on account of its
rarity, the Istrian v