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138 GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES.
“Well, what do you see?” asked the dog.
“What do I see?” answered the ass; " here is a table set
out with splendid eatables and drinkables, and robbers sitting
at it and making themselves very comfortable.”
“That would just suit us,” said the cock.
“Yes, indeed, I wish we were there,” said the ass. Then
they consulted together how it should be managed so as to
get the robbers out of the house, and at lást they hit on a
plan. ‘The ass was to place his forefeet on the window-sill, the
dog was to get on the ass’s back, the cat on the top of the dog,
and lastly the cock was to fly up and perch on the cat’s head.
When that was done, at a given signal they all began to per¬
form their music. ‘The ass brayed, the dog barked, the cat
mewed, and the cock crowed; then they burst through into
the room, breaking all the panes of glass. ‘The robbers fled at
the dreadful sound ; they thought it was some goblin, and fled
to the wood in the utmost terror. ‘Then the four companions
sat down to table, made free with the remains of the meal, and
feasted as if they had been hungry for a month. And when
they had finished they put out the lights, and each sought out
a sleeping-place to suit his nature and habits. ‘The ass laid
himself down outside on the dunghill, the dog behind the
door, the cat on the hearth by the warm ashes, and the cock
settled himself in the cockloft, and as they were all tired with
their long journey they soon fell fast asleep.
When midnight drew near, and the robbers from afar saw
that no light was burning, and that everything appeared quiet,
their captain said to them that he thought that they had run
away without reason, telling one of them to go and recon¬
noitre. So one of them went, and found everything quite
quiet; he went into the kitchen to strike a light, and taking the
glowing fiery eyes of the cat for burning coals, he held a match
to them in order to kindle it. But the cat, not seeing the
joke, flew into his face, spitting and scratching. ‘Then he
cried out in terror, and ran to get out at the back door, but
the dog, who was lying there, ran at him and bit his leg;
and as he was rushing through the yard by the dunghill the
ass struck out and gave him a great kick with his hindfoot;
and the cock, who had been wakened with the noise, and felt
quite brisk, cried out, " Cock-a-doodle-doo !”