Now one old man had caught a very fine lot of fish of all sizes. Indeed, he had so many that he was obliged to hire a cart in which to carry them home. He was driving along slowly when suddenly he noticed a red fox crouched under the bush near the road. He stopped his horse, jumped down from the cart, and carefully crept near the spot where he had seen Master Reynard. The fox did not open his eyes nor move a muscle.
“Well,” said the old fisherman, “I do believe he is dead! What a fine coat he has. I will take him home and give him to my wife for a present.” He lifted the fox and put him into the cart among the fish. The old man then mounted to his seat and drove merrily on, thinking how pleased his wife would be with the fine fish and the fox. When they were well on their way, the sly fox threw one fish after another out of the cart until all lay scattered along on the road; then he slipped out of the cart.
When the old man reached his cottage, he called out to his wife, “Come and see the fine fish I caught to-day. And I have brought you a beautiful gift, also.”
His wife hurried to the cart and said, “Where are the fish, my husband, and where is my present?”
“Why, there in the cart,” he replied.
“In the cart!” exclaimed his wife. “Why, there is nothing here; neither fish nor present, so far as I can see.”
The old man looked and to his great surprise and disappointment he discovered that what his wife said was true.
Meanwhile, the sly fox had gathered up the fish and had taken them to the forest in order to enjoy a fine supper. Presently he heard a pleasant voice saying, “Good evening, Brother Reynard.”
He looked up and saw his friend Bruin. “Oh, good evening to you,” answered the fox. “I have been fishing to-day, and, as you see, luck certainly attended me.”
“It did, indeed,” answered the bear. “Could you not spare me one fish? I should consider the gift a great favor.”