Pretty soon the summer had passed, and winter with its short dark days had come.
One cold, stormy morning Red Fox was walking about, wondering how he could catch that crow. After thinking about it for a long time, he said, “I know what I will do!” So he lay down in the snow and played “dead,” for he knew that crows like to pick at dead animals.
After a while the crow came flying about, looking for food. He spied the red fox lying there, and slowly flew down nearby. At first he was afraid the fox was not really dead, but the fox lay very still. Then the crow touched the fox a little with his beak. The fox did not move, and the crow grew bolder.
“He is really dead,” said the crow, “and I will go around and have a look at his eyes.”
He walked around the fox and started to peck his eyes, but when he came near the head, Red Fox opened his big mouth and snapped, and snapped the crow in it, tight as a trap.
Crow thought he would die of fright before the fox got a chance to eat him, he was so scared, but Red Fox started up the mountain with Crow in his mouth.
Then Crow gathered his wits together in spite of his terror, and tried to think of some way he could get out of Red Fox’s mouth. “If I can only make him open his mouth to talk,” thought Crow, “then I can get out.” So he said, “O Fox, I know you are going to eat me, but I pray you tell me one thing before I die. Which way is the wind blowing?”
“West wind,” said the fox, and opened his mouth very wide to say “West.”
Out flew Mr. Crow as fast as he could, much to the surprise of Red Fox.
As he flew away the crow lingered a little over the head of Red Fox. “Haw, haw, Mr. Fox,” laughed he, “haw, haw! I saved myself from your mouth. You cannot fool me. No animal can fool me.” Then he flew off flapping his wings and laughing “Haw, haw!” Red Fox slunk away with his tail dragging on the ground. He was very much ashamed of how the crow had fooled him twice, and he did not like to be beaten, for he and Crow are considered the two smartest animals at trickery and deceit; but no one can beat the crow.