Laboulaye's Fairy Book

daybreak, Pensive cal

shore, the birds are singing, the bees are humming, and

ot long; before noon we shall be in sight of the te

Pensive; "the road is harder than yesterday,

in was covered with tall grass sprinkled with flowers; the road was lined with aloes, jujubes, and acanthuses, and before them lay a cloudless horizon. Graceful, ravished with hope and pleasure, fancied himself already at the end of his journey. Fido bounded over the fields and chased the frightened partridges; P

do. "I will cut off the way

ensive?" sa

s the work of an instant. Trust to me-I wa

f to suffer herself to be caught, then bounded forward as soon as the hand of the pursuer touched her. "Courage, master!" cr

aceful redoubled his ardor, and was already stretching out his hand to seize his prey when all at once the ground gave way beneath his feet and he fell, with his imprudent companion, into a pit covered over wi

ght in advising you not to follow me. We hav

ess for the King of the Wolves; then, somewhat calmed, he examined the deep ditch into which he had fallen. It was

and throw me with all your might, perhaps I can

k; finally, at the fourth effort, he caught hold of some roots, and aided himself so well with his teeth and

rth and make yourself a ladder. Quick! quick!" he

outside. Then he secured his dagger in his belt, changed the powder in the pan o

Graceful took aim and fired. The bullet hit the mark and the animal fell back howling, but instantly sprang forward anew. "Load y

panion; he boldly advanced and fired his second shot, taking aim at the shoulder. The wolf fell; but, rising, with a last effort he threw himself on the hunter, who fell under him. On receiving this terrible shock, Gracefu

trembling, upon a fallen tree. Fido crept painfully to his feet,

come of us? Night is approaching

hing whirled before his eyes. He thought of his grandmother, and began to weep. What was poor Graceful's remorse for having so soon forgotten such fair promis

embraced Fido, his only friend, and forgave him the imprudence for which they were both about to pay with their lives;

e voice that could be none other than Pensive's, a

g close by where you can quench your thirst and stanch your bleeding

se, they were out of danger. They had still to journey over a painful and dangerous road for those who no longer had the ardor of the morning. There were marshes to cross, ditches to leap, and thickets to break through, which tore Graceful's face and hand

of Neptune, and, after thanking Pensive, fell asleep,