[Illustration: THE WOLF AND THE CRANE.]
A Wolf, after devouring his prey, happened to have a bone stick in his
throat, which gave him so much pain, that he went howling up and down,
and importuning every creature he met to lend him a kind hand, in order
to his relief; nay, he promised a reasonable reward to any one that
should undertake the operation with success. At last the Crane, tempted
with the lucre of the reward, and having first procured him to confirm
his promise with an oath, undertook the business, and ventured his long
neck into the rapacious felon's throat. In short, he plucked out the
bone, and expected the promised gratuity. When the Wolf, turning his
eyes disdainfully towards him, said,--'I did not think you had been so
unconscionable; I had your head in my mouth, and could have bit it off
whenever I pleased, but suffered you to take it away without any
damage, and yet you are not contented.'