THE CUNNING MAN IN HILLTOWN
"That is true. How—how much will you take for him?"
"I did not think of selling him," said Eric, "but I will do you a favor if I can, so I will let him go for seventy dollars."
"That is a great deal," remarked the man from Plaintown. "Three fine cows might be bought for that money."
"I know," answered Eric; "and you have a right to choose what will be most useful to you, of course." So he turned around and began to walk on.
"Wait—wait a moment!" shouted the rich man. "Why can't we talk about it? I will give you fifty."
"Take him, then," answered Eric, turning back, "and you are welcome to him."
The bargain was closed, and Reynard changed owner. "Just let me tell you," explained Eric, "how to treat him. When you want him to paint some of your sheep, put him into the fold and keep the door well closed for two weeks. He finds his own food, so you need not disturb him at all until he tells you that the work is done."
When Christopher returned home with his sheep-painter, it was determined to put him to work at once. He was led into the fold, and the door was carefully closed in order to prevent any one from disturbing him.
In a week Christopher's wife became curious to see how far the work had progressed. She peeped through the door and said that she could see a
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