"Whatdoyousee,mygrey-horse?"askedthecock."WhatdoIsee?"answeredthedonkey;"atablecoveredwithgoodthingstoeatanddrink,androbberssittingatitenjoyingthemselves.""Thatwouldbethesortofthingforus,"saidthecock."Yes,yes;ah,howIwishwewerethere!"saidthedonkey.
Thentheanimalstookcounseltogetherhowtheyshouldmanagetodriveawaytherobbers,andatlasttheythoughtofaplan.Thedonkeywastoplacehimselfwithhisfore-feetuponthewindow-ledge,thehoundwastojumponthedonkey'sback,thecatwastoclimbuponthedog,andlastlythecockwastoflyupandperchupontheheadofthecat.
Whenthiswasdone,atagivensignal,theybegantoperformtheirmusictogether:thedonkeybrayed,thehoundbarked,thecatmewed,andthecockcrowed;thentheyburstthroughthewindowintotheroom,sothattheglassclattered!Atthishorribledin,therobberssprangup,thinkingnootherwisethanthataghosthadcomein,andfledinagreatfrightoutintotheforest.
Thefourcompanionsnowsatdownatthetable,wellcontentwithwhatwasleft,andateasiftheyweregoingtofastforamonth.
Assoonasthefourminstrelshaddone,theyputoutthelight,andeachsoughtforhimselfasleeping-placeaccordingtohisnatureandtowhatsuitedhim.Thedonkeylaidhimselfdownuponsomestrawintheyard,thehoundbehindthedoor,thecatuponthehearthnearthewarmashes,andthecockperchedhimselfuponabeamoftheroof;andbeingtiredfromtheirlongwalk,theysoonwenttosleep.
Whenitwaspastmidnight,andtherobberssawfromafarthatthelightwasnolongerburningintheirhouse,andallappearedquiet,thecaptainsaid,"Weoughtnottohaveletourselvesbefrightenedoutofourwits;"andorderedoneofthemtogoandexaminethehouse.
Themessengerfindingallstill,wentintothekitchentolightacandle,and,takingtheglisteningfieryeyesofthecatforlivecoals,heheldalucifer-matchtothemtolightit.
Butthecatdidnotunderstandthejoke,andflewinhisface,spittingandscratching.Hewasdreadfullyfrightened,andrantotheback-door,butthedog,wholaytheresprangupandbithisleg;andasheranacrosstheyardbythestraw-heap,thedonkeygavehimasmartkickwithitshindfoot.
Thecock,too,whohadbeenawakenedbythenoise,andhadbecomelively,crieddownfromthebeam,"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"
Thentherobberranbackasfastashecouldtohiscaptain,andsaid,"Ah,thereisahorriblewitchsittinginthehouse,whospatonmeandscratchedmyfacewithherlongclaws;andbythedoorstandsamanwithaknife,whostabbedmeintheleg;andintheyardthereliesablackmonster,whobeatmewithawoodenclub;andabove,upontheroof,sitsthejudge,whocalledout,'Bringtherogueheretome!'soIgotawayaswellasIcould."
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