the perch in
the hen-house." The farmer laughed at the joke, and permitted him to do
so.

As soon as all were in their first sleep, the owner of the bast shoes
rose from his bed, slipped into the hen-house, tore the shoes to pieces,
and scattered the coarse plaits among the fowls. Next morning he went to
the master of the house and complained, "Farmer, my property was badly
damaged last night." Said the farmer, "Well, let whoever has done the
mischief make it good." This was just what the stranger wanted, and he
immediately caught the dappled cock, and put him into his knapsack,
"for," said he, "he's the culprit; last night he pecked at my shoes till
he spoiled them." Then he proceeded on his journey with the cock.

On the evening of the same day he arrived at a neighbouring village, and
asked again for accommodation. At night he put the cock in the farmer's
sheep-pen, and excused himself by saying, "My cock has not been used to
anything else since he was a chicken." But at night he strangled the
bird, and then complained, "The sheep have killed my cock." He
indemnified himself by taking a fat ram from the flock, for he held by
the farmer's adage, "He who has done the mischief must pay for it."

By a similar stratagem he exchanged the ram at the third village for an
ox, and at last the ox for a horse. He soon contrived to get a sledge
too, and drove merrily over hill and dale, till the stones flew behind
him, while he contrived new schemes and stratagems. On the way, he
encountered Master Reynard, who persuaded him by entreaties and
cajoleries to take him into his sledge. After a while, the wolf and bear
joined them, and likewise found a place in the sledge; but this made the
load too heavy, and when they came to a curve in the road, the
side-poles of the sledge gave way. Then the man sent his companions to
fetch wood to make a new pole. But none of the three brought a proper
one back. The fox and wolf brought thin sticks in their mouths, and the
bear brought a whole pine-tree, roots and all. Then the man went
himself, and soon found the wood which he wanted. Meantime, the wild
beasts availed themselves of the opportunity, and sprang upon the horse
and devoured it. But they stuffed the skin nicely with straw, and set it
carefully up, so that it stood again on its four legs as if it was
alive.

When the man came back with the pole, he mended the sledge and harnessed
the horse again. "Oho! now we'll drive on." But al