The crow knew that it was of no use struggling , so he said : ` Ah , brother , if you are really going to eat me , do it , I beg of you , in good style . Throw me first over this precipice , so that my feathers may be strewn here and there , and that all who see them may know that your cunning is greater than mine . ' This idea pleased the fox , for he had not yet forgiven the crow for depriving him of the young magpies , so he carried the crow to the edge of the precipice and threw him over , intending to go round by a path he knew and pick him up at the bottom . But no sooner had the fox let the crow go than he soared up into the air , and hovering just out of teach of his enemy 's jaws , he cried with a laugh : ` Ah , fox ! you know well how to catch , but you can not keep . ' With his tail between his legs , the fox slunk into the forest . He did not know where to look for a dinner , as he guessed that the crow would have flown back before him , and put every one on their guard . The notion of going to bed supperless was very unpleasant to him , and he was wondering what in the world he should do , when he chanced to meet with his old friend the bear . This poor animal had just lost his wife , and was going to get some one to mourn over her , for he felt her loss greatly . He had hardly left his comfortable cave when he had come across the wolf , who inquired where he was going . ' I am going to find a mourner , ' answered the bear , and told his story . ` Oh , let me mourn for you , ' cried the wolf . ` Do you understand how to howl ? ' said the bear . ` Oh , certainly , godfather , certainly , ' replied the wolf ; but the bear said he should like to have a specimen of his howling , to make sure that he knew his business . So the wolf broke forth in his song of lament : ` Hu , hu , hu , hum , hoh , ' he shouted , and he made such a noise that the bear put up his paws to his ears , and begged him to stop . ` You have no idea how it is done . Be off with you , ' said he angrily . A little further down the road the hare was resting in a ditch , but when she saw the bear , she came out and spoke to him , and inquired why he looked so sad . The bear told her of the loss of his wife , and of his search after a mourner that could lament over her in the proper style .
The hare instantly offered her services , but the bear took care to ask her to give him a proof XXXXX her talents , before he accepted them .
So With across between down for of than that to