Russian Fairy Tales :: The Woodcock and the Fox

The Woodcock and the Fox

A Woodcock was perched on a tree. A fox-a vixen it was-came to the foot of the tree and said:
“Greetings, little friend Woodcock! As soon as I hear your voice I felt I had to come and see how you were.”
“Thank you for you kindness,” replied the woodcock.
The vixen pretended not to hear and said:
“What did you say? I can't hear you, little friend Woodcock. Come down here on the grass and let us have a talk. I can't hear you when you're so high up in the tree.”
The Woodcock said:
“I'm afraid to walk in the grass. It's dangerous for us birds.”
“Surely you're not afraid of me, by any chance?” asked the vixen with a sweet smile.
“Not exactly," the woodcock replied, "but there are other animals. And I'd be afraid of them.”
“No, little friend Woodcock, a law has just been passed, saying that there must be peace everywhere...all animals are to leave each other alone from now onward.”
“What a good thing,” said thee woodcock. “For from where I'm sitting high up on this branch I can see a whole lot of dogs and they're all running in our direction. You would have had to run for your life, if it hadn't been for this law! But now, of course, it's all right. You can just can wait here for them.”
When she heard about the dogs, the vixen pricked up her pretty pointed ears and when she heard all that barking she decided to run.
“Where are you off to?” said the woodcock. “Now that there is this new law you've told me about, surely the dogs won't you touch you?”
“Who knows?” replied the fox. “Maybe they haven't heard about the new law yet.” And this she took to her heels and disappeared.