And hearing this she sat down and screamed.

"Arise and a.s.sert your rights," said Purrier, "and I will help you.

Let us go together to Crafticus, and if he be as careless about your bed as about your food, you just scream and scream till you get what you want."

So they went along side by side, and when they entered the barn and looked into the box, Crafticus appeared to be in a deep sleep, but he was only pretending.

Purrier leaped in softly and lay beside him. "Oh this is cold," said he. Then he went to the other side and lay down. "Oh, this is cold also," and he rose up shivering. Then he poked his paw under the fox and whispered--"Ha, ha, this is warm. The selfish fellow--it is just like him to choose the warmest spot. Come and judge for yourself, poor neglected Stupidify."

The goose jumped in clumsily and fell on her fat breast. Then she poked her beak under Crafticus and found it to be as the cat had said.

It never struck her that the heat came from the fox's own body.

"Now, demand your rights," said Purrier, "demand a share of the comfortable spot," and he went away and lay down among the dried gra.s.s.

"I want my rights," cried the goose, in the fox's ear.

"What?" said Crafticus, rubbing his eyes.

"I want my rights, I want you to move."

"You have got your rights and double your rights. You can rest on either side of me and I have only the centre."

"I want my share of the warm part."

"How can the centre be warmer than the sides?"

"Let me try," said the goose.

"All right, but it is very disturbing," replied the fox, and he rose up and let the goose sit down.

"It is just as I felt with my beak, it is the warmest spot, and you can't deny it. Now, I want my share of it."

"You won't get it, your request is absurd," and he pushed her aside.

Then he lay down and buried his eyes in his tail, as if trying to sleep.

Stupidify looked as if she might give in.

"Demand your rights," cried Purrier, in a shrill menacing voice; "the king is on your side," he added, with an emphatic yell.

"I want my rights," cried the goose, encouraged to quarrelsomeness, and she bit Crafticus on the ear.

"Stupidify," said the fox, slowly raising his head, "you are breaking my rest. Don't you know that I have to run in the king's chamois chase to-morrow, and that I need all the sleep I can get?"

"The king is my friend," answered the goose with a chuckle and a stubborn look.

"Do let me alone," rejoined the fox, as he buried his face again in his tail. But it was no use.

"I want my rights, I want my rights," screamed the goose, and she went on demanding them or scolding and hissing every now and then till midnight.

At last Crafticus arose and said--"I can't stand this any longer. I can't get any sleep, and I shall be quite unfit for the king's chase."

Then turning to the goose he cried--"Wretch, you have provoked me to kill you, and you have yourself to blame"; and having said this, he seized Stupidify by the neck and killed her.

Purrier now sprang from his bed and leaped into the box beside Crafticus, and they had a right royal feast together. They chatted and laughed, and Purrier told what he said to the goose when he met her and walked with her towards the barn.

"You have done well, Purrier, and I'll never forget you."

"Oh, my part was nothing," replied he, "it was your own wise head that planned the whole trick. And when your case comes again before the king, I am sure it can't be broken."

"Thank you sincerely," rejoined Crafticus. "I shall now get back to my dear, sorrowing wife and children."

Two days afterwards, the fox stood again before the king.

"Crafticus," said the counsellor, with a grave face, "you are charged this time with wilfully killing Stupidify, the king's fat goose. Now what have you to say for yourself?"

Then Crafticus told the whole story of his provocation in a persuasive, modest manner, and he finished by saying--

"Purrier, if I mistake not, was present at the time, and, if so, he will be able to support every word I have spoken."

"Call for the black cat," commanded the king.

"Purrier, to the front," cried Primeval.

With a few fine springs the cat was in his place and on his hind legs before the king. But his eyes were closed because of the glare of light from the ruby and the diamond.

"Tell king m.u.f.fler all you know about Stupidify's treatment of Crafticus."

Purrier did so and added--

"I was so sorry and indignant after the selfish goose sat down in the poor fox's warm place that I called out to him--'Demand your rights, the king is on your side.'"

Then Purrier finished by saying--

"Pardon me, O king, if I venture to say that such senseless, irritating conduct as the goose exhibited all that night might almost try your own great patience."

"It would indeed," said m.u.f.fler, "it was absurd and provoking in the highest degree, and if there be nothing to set aside your testimony, Crafticus shall go free." And when Purrier bowed and sprang away, the king smiled approvingly and called after him--"You are a sympathetic, clever little fellow, and I like your glossy, black coat."

"Next witness," said m.u.f.fler.

"Niblius, come forward," cried the counsellor.

But although everyone looked, no one could see Niblius, and they wondered if he had dared not to be present. At last a little mouse with a white face and white feet was seen running up the hairy body of Primeval and out along his extended arm, and then sitting bolt upright on his broad palm. Then it bowed with a pretty jerk to king m.u.f.fler, and he nodded back and smiled.

"I suppose you will be able to prove the black cat's words to be true?"

remarked Primeval.

"No, my king," replied the little fellow bravely, and he told everything he overheard in the barn.

King m.u.f.fler opened his eyes in astonishment and enquired--