THE EAGLE, THE CAT, AND THE WILD SOW
An Eagle built her nest at the top
of a high tree; a Cat with her family occupied a hollow
in the trunk half-way down; and a Wild Sow and her
young took up their quarters at the foot. They
might have got on very well as neighbours had it not
been for the evil cunning of the Cat. Climbing
up to the Eagle’s nest she said to the Eagle,
“You and I are in the greatest possible danger.
That dreadful creature, the Sow, who is always to
be seen grubbing away at the foot of the tree, means
to uproot it, that she may devour your family and mine
at her ease.” Having thus driven the Eagle
almost out of her senses with terror, the Cat climbed
down the tree, and said to the Sow, “I must warn
you against that dreadful bird, the Eagle. She
is only waiting her chance to fly down and carry off
one of your little pigs when you take them out, to
feed her brood with.” She succeeded in frightening
the Sow as much as the Eagle. Then she returned
to her hole in the trunk, from which, feigning to
be afraid, she never came forth by day. Only by
night did she creep out unseen to procure food for
her kittens. The Eagle, meanwhile was afraid
to stir from her nest, and the Sow dared not leave
her home among the roots: so that in time both
they and their families perished of hunger, and their
dead bodies supplied the Cat with ample food for her
growing family.