a lion, who had grown too old and feeble to go out and hunt for prey, could hardly find enough food to keep him from starving. but at last he thought of a plan for bringing the game within his reach.

he kept quite still in his den and made believe that he was very ill. when the other animals heard of his distress, they came, one by one, to look at him and ask him how he felt. no sooner were they within his reach, however, than he seized upon them and ate them up.

after a good many beasts had lost their lives in this way a fox came along.

"how do you feel to-day, friend lion?" he asked, taking care to stand at a safe distance from the den.

"i am very ill," answered the lion. "won't you come inside a little while? it does me a great deal of good to see my kind friends."

"thank you," said the fox; "but i notice that all the tracks point toward your den and none point away from it," and so saying, he trotted merrily away.