Stranica 86 [86]
LABOULAYE’S FAIRY BOOK
sive soared in the air and sported with the light. All at
once Graceful saw a beautiful doe in the midst of the reeds,
looking at him with languishing eyes as if she were calling
him. He went toward her; she bounded forward, but
only a little way. Three times she repeated the same trick,
as if to allure him on.
“Let us follow her,” said Fido. “I will cut off the way
and we will soon catch her."
“Where is Pensive?”’ said Graceful.
“What does it matter?” replied Fido; “it is the work of
an instant. Trust to me—I was born for the chase—and
the doe is ours."
Graceful did not let himself be bid twice. While Fido
made a circuit he ran after the doe, which paused among
the trees as if to suffer herself to be caught, then bounded
forward as soon as the hand of the pursuer touched her.
" Courage, master!" cried Fido, as he came upon her. But
with a toss of the head, the doe flung the dog in the air, and
fled swifter than the wind.
Graceful sprang forward in pursuit. Fido, with burning
eyes and distended jaws, ran and yelped as if he were mad.
They crossed ditches, brakes, and hedges, unchecked by
nothing. The wearied doe lost ground. Graceful re¬
doubled his ardor, and was already stretching out his hand
to seize his prey when all at once the ground gave way
beneath his feet and he fell, with his imprudent companion,
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