The Story of a Donkey

saved,” thought I; “they never will find me, and in a cou

tless and frightened, I got up and went towards a little brook that I had noticed in the morning. I had hardly ventured into the wate

d in the water the dogs could not follow my scent. So I began to8 run in

arking of the dogs as well as the voice of Jules

the dogs might come upon my scent again. When I had rested a little, I set off again, always following the brook until I got out of the forest. I then found myself

,” said the taller of the two, “shall we take the catt

told you th

rom the farm has been taken a

hat farm are so wicked that they have k

say that the wolve

n’t know that they

ake in our cattl

, brother; it i

tely the grass was long and hid me; the cattle were not on the side where I was. T

not seen the tail of a wolf in the forest where I passed the night. So I slept beautifully and

and, barking fiercely, ran towards me, his companion

brook I had followed. I was fortunate enough to jump over it, and I hear

ch I don’t know. I must have gone more than ten miles.10 I was saved; nobody knew

rtable home. I trotted on right through the forest, and out at the other side, and after some days’ tra

s very clean and neat. An old woman was sitting by the door doing some needlework. I tho

ve a shriek, and

my face towards hers with

the place of my poor Greycoat, who died the other day of old age, and I shall still be able to earn my living by t

and a nice little boy came out of the door. He was six or seven years old,

loped

ped alon

I stroke hi

ge, my dear; but take ca

o stand on tiptoe before he could reach my back. I didn’t move, for fea

st see! what a dear don

ere all by himself. Go to the village, my dear, and ask whether anyb

e saw me come up, and then stand still by a mound on the

When we got to the village inn, George cri

nt, laddie?” sa

you know whose

. “No, my boy, he isn’t mine, and he doesn’t b

nobody had ever seen me before. At last we went back to the good

eep him till he is claimed. He mustn’t stay out all night. Take h

cottage door. The old woman put a light pack-saddle on my back and mounted. Then George brought her a basket of vegetables, which she to

ittle master. They never beat me or overworked me, and they gave me the best food they could. We donkeys are not dainty. The outside leave