I am dying of hunger , ' answered the wolf , doggedly ; ` and you know , ' he added with a grin , ` that charity begins at home . ' ` Quite so , ' replied the fox ; ` it would be unreasonable of me to object to your satisfying your appetite at my expense . But if the fox resigns herself to the sacrifice , the mother offers you one last request . ' ` Then be quick and do n't waste my time , for I ca n't wait much longer . What is it you want ? ' ` You must know , ' said the fox , ` that in this village there is a rich man who makes in the summer enough cheeses to last him for the whole year , and keeps them in an old well , now dry , in his courtyard . By the well hang two buckets on a pole that were used , in former days , to draw up water . For many nights I have crept down to the palace , and have lowered myself in the bucket , bringing home with me enough cheese to feed the children . All I beg of you is to come with me , and , instead of hunting chickens and such things , I will make a good meal off cheese before I die . ' ` But the cheeses may be all finished by now ? ' ` If you were only to see the quantities of them ! ' laughed the fox . ` And even if they were finished , there would always be ME to eat . ' ` Well , I will come . Lead the way , but I warn you that if you try to escape or play any tricks you are reckoning without your host -- that is to say , without my legs , which are as long as yours ! ' All was silent in the village , and not a light was to be seen but that of the moon , which shone bright and clear in the sky . The wolf and the fox crept softly along , when suddenly they stopped and looked at each other ; a savoury smell of frying bacon reached their noses , and reached the noses of the sleeping dogs , who began to bark greedily . ` Is it safe to go on , think you ? ' asked the wolf in a whisper . And the fox shook her head .
` Not while the dogs are barking , ' said she ; ` someone might XXXXX out to see if anything was the matter . '
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