The Indianapolis journal., 1903-03-22
The story Of how Bruin went out to
arrest Reynard and how he was con-
founded Told by Prof. Louis c. Ward,
OF Indiana State University.

honey-comb. and all the way Bruin kept
smacking his lips and muttering:
% the sweet honey, What feast /
shall have" And Reynard. when he heard
the words grinned knowingly and said to
himself:
warrant thee, Friend Bruin, thou car
riest away more than thou wilt have stom-
ach for
Finally the two came to Saw-hard's
yard where stood the tools and lumber of
the carpenter. That day he had been split
ting huge oaken beam. There II lay upon
the ground, a yawning crack in it's side,
with wedge at one end to keep it from
closing again. When Reynard saw the
oeam, he almost danced for Joy.
y friend Bruin,' he cried; in that log
Is enough honey for all the bears in the
Forest All that you have TO do is to put
IN your hands and take out all that bear
could wish for. Fall to and eat; but take
care that you do not swallow too much,
ior' by my faith, twill make you sick
Do you take me for a glutton? an
grily roared the bear. When have enough
l know II better than some other people
So saying, Bruin eagerly thrust snout
honey. Then Reynard, seizing the carpen-
ters mallet, knocked out the wedge. The
sides Of the beam clicked as they closed,
and there was Bruin. fast caught in the
trap. Neither threats nor fiattery availed
him, and Reynard. standing off a little
way, cried mockingly:
You will take me to court, won't you?
You are too shrewd for Reynard, aren't
you? Won't you box his ears if he tries
any of his tricks on you? Tell me, how
does the honey taste? Eat with temper
ance, my friend. And now, farewell. 1 see
Master Saw-hard coming; no doubt he will
give you more honey. But cannot stay.
Good-by, and luck be with you.
What Reynard had said was true When
Bruin found himself caught he struggled
nightly, tearing up the earth with his
hind feet and waving with all his might.
The noise aroused Saw-hard, who straight
way came out to see what the trouble was
In few moments he perceived the bear,
fast In the beam, and then he called upon
all his neighbors to come and help him kill
the raging beast.
Soon all the village was in the yard
Saw-hard had his ak, the blacksmith
brought his hammer and tongs, the farmers
their pitchforks, and the priest his walk
ing stick With one accord all rushed upon
poor Bruin, who was mortally frightened.
Blow after blow was rained upon the un-
happy fellow. The harder the people beat
him the more desperately he struggled
By and by he freed his head, and then the
country people fell upon him harder than
ever. Just when 1t seemed that he must
surely be killed, with groan he gave a
mighty tug and pulled his paws from the
log. Then he fled as fast as his wounds
would let him down to the river. Into the
water he plunged, and the strong current
carried him away from his tormentors.
Meanwhile; Reynard had not been idle
While the villagers were beating the bear
he had stolen into the hen coops. Many
a fowl that night went to sleep that never
woke again, and Reynard. after he had
satisfied his hunger. set off for home along
the river. AS he strolled along he smiled
and muttered:
1--WE would fetch me to court, would he Z?
He'll never bother anybody again. I knew
could trick him. Wonder If Saw-hard
killed the braggart? At any rate, 1 wager
he got all the honey he cared for, only 1t
may not have been just the kind he went
after
with such pleasant thought Reynard
was plodding along. when suddenly deep
groan issued from the bushes along the
river. The fox crept cautiously near. and
parting the bushes saw the bear lying on
the sands. painting and almost exhausted.
Marks there were, too, of many bruise
and cut. Then Reynard cried out, mock
ingly:
How did you like the honey, cousin
Did you get enough to satisfy you? Was it
sweet? How do you like stealing from
your neighbors? Or did you. perhaps. pay
for what you got? No doubt you will take
me to court. Come. come, let's up and
go. Won't the King be proud of his mes
senger?"
'Tn such manner Reynard continued to
taunt poor Bruin, who, to get away from
his mocker. slowly arose and stumbled OFF
through the woods toward the court. Four
days he wandered about, and when at last
he came into the Kings presence, the latter
CRIED in horror and surprise:
"'Bruin, noble friend, who has dared
thus to insult and injure our messenger and
our bravest friend?'
".Ah, your Majesty groaned the poor
fellow, 1t was the traitor Reynard By a
base scheme he betrayed me- and so I am
come home wounded and dishonored; and
"'No more, friend roared the King.
Vengeance must be had. / am no true
King If do not bring this traitor to JUS
tice. And that the message may not mis-
carry this time. Tab. the cat there, must
carry it. For II he be not the largest of
my mobiles, he Is at least one Of the shrewd-
est And continued the King. turning to the
cat, tell the rogue that unless he comes
this time, he and all his family shall be
outlawed, for justice must be done. and by
our sword we swear that the rascal shall
suffer for his crimes. Go now, and. bring
him quickly before U.S.
"sThy royal will be done, o King said
Tab. bowing low, and then he turned about