will make a hole, and
the wind and rain will come in and give me a cold. Do go away; I am sure
you are not a friend, but our wicked enemy the fox.' And poor Whitey
began to whine and to whimper, and to wish that she had not been such
a greedy little pig, and had chosen a more solid material than cabbages
for her house. But it was too late now, and in another minute the
fox had eaten his way through the cabbage walls, and had caught the
trembling, shivering Whitey, and carried her off to his den.

The next day the fox started off for Blacky's house, because he had made
up his mind that he would get the three little pigs together in his den,
and then kill them, and invite all his friends to a feast. But when he
reached the brick house, he found that the door was bolted and barred,
so in his sly manner he began, 'Do let me in, dear Blacky. I have
brought you a present of some eggs that I picked up in a farmyard on my
way here.'

'No, no, Mister Fox,' replied Blacky, 'I am not going to open my door
to you. I know your cunning ways. You have carried off poor Browny and
Whitey, but you are not going to get me.'

At this the fox was so angry that he dashed with all his force against
the wall, and tried to knock it down. But it was too strong and
well-built; and though the fox scraped and tore at the bricks with his
paws he only hurt himself, and at last he had to give it up, and limp
away with his fore-paws all bleeding and sore.

'Never mind!' he cried angrily as he went off, 'I'll catch you another
day, see if I don't, and won't I grind your bones to powder when I have
got you in my den!' and he snarled fiercely and showed his teeth.

Next day Blacky had to go into the neighbouring town to do some
marketing and to buy a big kettle. As he was walking home with it slung
over his shoulder, he heard a sound of steps stealthily creeping after
him. For a moment his heart stood still with fear, and then a happy
thought came to him. He had just reached the top of a hill, and could
see his own little house nestling at the foot of it among the trees.
In a moment he had snatched the lid off the kettle and had jumped in
himself. Coiling himself round he lay quite snug in the bottom of the
kettle, while with his fore-leg he managed to put the lid on, so that he
was entirely hidden. With a little kick from the inside he started the
kettle off, and down the hill it rolled full tilt; and when the fox came
up, all that he saw was a larg