and when we make music together, there will be quality in it.’
The Cock allowed himself to be persuaded, and they all four went off together. They could not, however, reach the town in one day, and by evening they arrived at a wood, where they determined to spend the night. The Ass and the Hound lay down under a big tree; the Cat and the Cock settled themselves in the branches, the Cock flying right up to the top, which was the safest place for him. Before going to sleep he looked round once more in every direction; suddenly it seemed to him that he saw a light burning in the distance. He called out to his comrades that there must be a house not far off, for he saw a light.
‘Very well,’ said the Ass, ‘let us set out and make our way to it, for the entertainment here is very bad.’
The Hound thought some bones or meat would suit him too, so they set out in the direction of the light, and soon saw it shining more clearly, and getting bigger and bigger, till they reached a brightly-lighted robbers’ den. The Ass, being the tallest, approached the window and looked in.
‘What do you see, old Jackass?’ asked the Cock.
‘What do I see?’ answered the Ass; ‘why, a table spread with delicious food and drink, and robbers seated at it enjoying themselves.’
‘That would just suit us,’ said the Cock.
‘Yes; if we were only there,’ answered the Ass.
Then the animals took counsel as to how to set about driving the robbers out. At last they hit upon a plan.
The Ass was to take up his position with his fore-feet on the window-sill, the Hound was to jump on his back, the Cat to climb up on to the Hound, and last of all the Cock flew up and perched on the Cat’s head. When they were thus arranged, at a given signal they all began to perform their music; the Ass brayed, the Hound barked, the Cat mewed, and the Cock crowed; then they dashed through the window, shivering the panes. The robbers jumped up at the terrible
