The Tiger, the Fox, and the Hunters

 A Fox was once caught in a trap. A hungry Tiger saw him and said, "So you are here!"

 

"Only on your account," said the Fox, in a whisper.

 

"How so?" said the Tiger.

 

"Why, you were complaining you could not get men to eat, so I got into this net to-day, that you may have the men when they come to take me," said the Fox, and gave a hint that if the Tiger would wait a while in a thicket¹ close by, he would point out the men to him.

 

"May I depend upon your word?" said the Tiger.

 

"Certainly," said the Fox.

 

The hunters came, and, seeing the Fox in the net, said: "So you are here!"

 

"Only on your account," said the Fox, in a whisper.

 

"How so?" said the men.

 

"Why, you were complaining you could not get at the Tiger that has been devouring² your cattle. I got into this net to-day that you may have him. As I expected, he came to eat me up, and is in yonder thicket," said the Fox, and gave a hint that if they would take him out of the trap he would point out the Tiger. "May we depend upon your word?" said the men.

 

"Certainly," said the Fox, while the men went with him in a circle to see that he did not escape.

 

Then the Fox said to the Tiger and the men: "Sir Tiger, here are the men; gentlemen, here is the Tiger."

 

The men left the Fox and turned to the Tiger. The former beat a hasty retreat to the wood, saying, "I have kept my promise to both; now you may settle it between yourselves."

 

The Tiger exclaimed, when it was too late: "Alas³! what art for a double part?"

1 thicket   

n.灌木丛，树林

参考例句：

• A thicket makes good cover for animals to hide in.丛林是动物的良好隐蔽处。
• We were now at the margin of the thicket.我们现在已经来到了丛林的边缘。

2 devouring   

吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光

参考例句：

• The hungry boy was devouring his dinner. 那饥饿的孩子狼吞虎咽地吃饭。
• He is devouring novel after novel. 他一味贪看小说。

3 alas   

int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)

参考例句：

• Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
• Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。