[Illustration: THE DOVE AND THE ANT.]
The Ant, compelled by thirst, went to drink in a clear purling rivulet;
but the current, with its circling eddy, snatched her away, and carried
her down the stream. The Dove, pitying her distressed condition, cropped
a branch from a neighbouring tree, and let it fall into the water, by
means of which the Ant saved herself, and got ashore. Not long after, a
fowler having a design upon the Dove, planted his nets in due order,
without the bird's observing what he was about; which the Ant
perceiving, just as he was going to put his design in execution, she bit
him by the heel, and made him give so sudden a start, that the Dove took
the alarm, and flew away.