went on and on, and couldn't find a nice
place to stop. Then it began to grow dark, and the cock said: "Let's
spend the night on a tree. I'll fly up on to a branch, and you take
shelter in the hollow. We'll get through the night somehow."

[Illustration]

So the cock made his way on to a branch, tucked in his toes, and went to
sleep, while the dog made himself a bed in the hollow of the tree. And
they slept soundly the whole night through, and towards morning, when it
began to get light, the cock woke up and, as was his custom, crew as
loud as he could: "Cock-a-doodle-doo! cock-a-doodle-do! all wake up! all
get up! the sun will soon be rising, and the day will soon begin!"

[Illustration]

And he crew so loud, that a fox in a hole near by was up in an instant
thinking: "What a funny thing for a cock to be crowing in the forest! I
expect he's lost his way and can't get out again!"

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

And he began to look for the cock, and after a bit he saw him sitting
upon the branch of the tree. "Oho!" thought the fox, "he'd make a fine
meal! How can I get him to come down from there?"

[Illustration]

So he went up to the tree and said to the cock: "What a splendid cock
you are! I've never seen such a fine one all my days! What lovely
feathers, just as if they were covered with gold! And your tail! nobody
could describe it in words or on paper, it's so beautiful! And what a
sweet voice you've got! I could listen to it all day and all night. Do
fly down a little closer and let's get to know each other a little
better. That reminds me, I've got a christening on at my place to-day,
and I shall have plenty of food and drink to offer such a welcome guest.
Let's go along to my home."

[Illustration]

"Right you are," answered the cock, "I'll certainly come, only you must
ask my companion too. We always go about together." "And where is your
companion?" asked the fox. "Down below in the tree hollow," answered
the cock. And the fox poked his head into the hole, thinking there was
another cock there, when the dog popped his head out and caught Mr. Fox
by the nose!

[Illustration]

KING FROST.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

Once upon a time there lived an old man and his wife. She had one
daughter of her own, and he had one of _his_ own. And the old woman took
a dislike to her step-daughter. Whatever her own daughter did, she
praised her for everything and stroked her head, but wha