336' A KIIAUNIK.

advocated his own cause with so many argu-
ments of apparent justice, that I was not
allowed a voice in the business ; and in the
end I was sentenced to be thrust out of the city
as a thief and vagabond, with a threat of still
greater punishment if I dared to return. Here
ends my sad tale ; and you may judge for your-
self, oh, Traveller! how truly the Snake has
proved to you that he follows but the way of
the world!'

" As they pursued their way in search of fur-
ther conviction, they met a Fox, whose wisdom
and sagacity was consulted on the important
question. Having heard the whole history with
becoming gravity, the Fox addressed the Travel-
ler :—' You can have no good reason to sup-
pose, Mr. Traveller, that in your case there
should be any deviation from the general rule.
I have often been obliged to suffer the vilest
returns from friends whom I have been active
to oblige ; but I am rather curious to see the
way you effected the release of the Snake from