So he looked about for a suitable place , and found a convenient hole at the foot of an orange tree . He crept into it , and the next morning the fox heaped up the earth round him , and promised to feed him every day with fresh fruit . The fox so far kept his word that each morning when the sun rose he appeared to ask how the tortoise was getting on . ` Oh , very well ; but I wish you would give me some fruit , ' replied he . ` Alas ! the fruit is not ripe enough yet for you to eat , ' answered the fox , who hoped that the tortoise would die of hunger long before the seven years were over . ` Oh dear , oh dear ! I am so hungry ! ' cried the tortoise . ' I am sure you must be ; but it will be all right to-morrow , ' said the fox , trotting off , not knowing that the oranges dropped down the hollow trunk , straight into the tortoise 's hole , and that he had as many as he could possibly eat . So the seven years went by ; and when the tortoise came out of his hole he was as fat as ever . Now it was the fox 's turn , and he chose his hole , and the tortoise heaped the earth round , promising to return every day or two with a nice young bird for his dinner . ` Well , how are you getting on ? ' he would ask cheerfully when he paid his visits . ` Oh , all right ; only I wish you had brought a bird with you , ' answered the fox . ' I have been so unlucky , I have never been able to catch one , ' replied the tortoise . ` However , I shall be more fortunate to-morrow , I am sure . ' But not many to-morrows after , when the tortoise arrived with his usual question : ` Well , how are you getting on ? ' he received no answer , for the fox was lying in his hole quite still , dead of hunger . By this time the tortoise was grown up , and was looked up to throughout the forest as a person to be feared for his strength and wisdom .
But he was not considered a very swift runner , until an adventure XXXXX a deer added to his fame .
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