But the cat, not
understanding the joke, flew in his face, spitting and scratching,
which dreadfully frightened him, so that he made for the back door;
but the dog, who laid there, sprang up and bit his leg; and as he
limped upon the straw where the ass was stretched out, it gave him
a powerful kick with its hind foot. This was not all, for the cock,
awaking at the noise, clapped his wings, and cried from the beam:
"Cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-do!"
Then the robber ran back as well as he could to his captain, and said:
"Ah, my master, there dwells a horrible witch in the house, who spat
on me and scratched my face with her long nails; and then before the
door stands a man with a knife, who chopped at my leg; and in the yard
there lies a black monster, who beat me with a great wooden club; and
besides all, upon the roof sits a judge, who called out, 'Bring the
knave up, do!' so I ran away as fast as I could."
After this the robbers dared not again go near their house; but
everything prospered so well with the four town musicians of Bremen,
that they did not forsake their situation! And there they are to this
day, for anything I know.
* * * * *
THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE
BY WILHELM AND JAKOB GRIMM
There was once a fisherman who lived with his wife in a miserable
little hovel close to the sea.
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