A cruel King was riding out one day, when he saw a fox attack a hen. But
just then a dog ran after the fox and bit his leg. The fox, however,
lame as he was, managed to escape into his hole, and the dog ran off. A
man who saw him threw a stone at the dog, and cracked his head; but at
this moment a horse passing by ran against the man and trod on his foot.
A minute later the horse's foot stepped upon a stone, and his ankle was
broken.
"Ah," said the King. "This will be a lesson to me. I see that
misfortunes always overtake those who ill-use others."
And from that time the King became a kind and wise ruler of his people.
_Punishment sooner or later overtakes those who wrong others._
[Illustration: MODERN FABLES]