One bright evening as the sun was sinking on a glorious world a wise old cock flew into a tree to roost1). Before he composed2) himself to rest， he flapped his wings three times and crowed3) loudly. But just as he was about to put his head under his wing， his beady4) eyes caught a flash of red and a glimpse of a long pointed nose， and there just below him stood Master Fox.

\"Have you heard the wonderful news?\" cried the fox in a very joyful and excited manner.

\"What news?\" asked the cock very calmly. But he had a queer5)， fluttery6) feeling inside him， for， you know， he was very much afraid of the fox.

\"Your family and mine and all other animals have agreed to forget their differences and live in peace and friendship from now on forever. Just think of it! I simply cannot wait to embrace you! Do come down， dear friend， and let us celebrate the joyful event.\"

\"How grand!\" said the cock. \"I am certainly delighted at the news.\" But he spoke in an absent7) way， and stretching up on tiptoes， seemed to be looking at something afar off.

\"What is it you see?\" asked the fox a little anxiously.

\"Why8)， it looks to me like a couple of dogs coming this way. They must have heard the good news and ...\"

But the fox did not wait to hear more. Off he started on a run.

\"Wait，\" cried the cock. \"Why do you run? The dogs are friends of yours now!\"

\"Yes，\" answered the fox. \"But they might not have heard the news. Besides， I have a very important errand9) that I had almost forgotten about.\"

The cock smiled as he buried his head in his feathers and went to sleep， for he had succeeded in outwitting10) a very crafty11) enemy.

1.roost [ru#720;st] vi. 歇息；歇宿

2.compose [k#601;m#712;p#601;#650;z] vt. 使(自己、思想等)準(zhǔn)備好；使(自己、感情等)平靜(或鎮(zhèn)定)

3.crow [kr#601;#650;] vi. (雄雞)啼叫

4.beady [#712;bi#720;di] adj. 晶亮如小珠的

5.queer [kw#618;#601;(r)] adj. 古怪的，異常的

6.fluttery [#712;fl#652;t#601;ri] adj. 慌張的

7.absent [#712;aelig;bs#601;nt] adj. 心不在焉的，出神的

8.why [wa#618;] int. [表示驚訝、不耐煩、贊成、異議猶豫或引出另一種想法等] 哎呀！

9.errand: 參見P51注釋10

10.outwit [#716;a#650;t#712;w#618;t] vt. 智勝；騙過

11.crafty [#712;krɑ#720;fti] adj. 狡猾的；詭計(jì)多端的