The Wolf the Fox and the Ape

"Thief!" howled the wolf. "That fox has robbed me!"

"Robbed you?" cried the fox, with one paw on his chest. "I never touched a thing!"

They shouted so loudly that the whole forest came to look. It was the ape who offered to judge the case. He climbed onto a stump, folded his long arms and said, "One at a time."

The wolf went first. He thumped the ground and showed his teeth and told the whole tale twice. Then the fox had his turn, and he sighed and wept and swore on his own tail that he had done nothing wrong.

The ape scratched his head and looked from one to the other. He knew that wolf, and he knew that fox. The whole forest held its breath.

"Wolf," he said at last, "I do not think you ever lost what you say you lost. And fox, I am quite sure you stole it."