The wolf and the bear agreed , and they turned out of the hollow where they had been walking , and chose a path that led up the mountain side . The fox trotted cheerfully by his two big companions , but on the way he managed to whisper to the wolf : ` Tell me , Peter , when I am eaten , what will you have for your next dinner ? ' This simple question seemed to put out the wolf very much . What would they have for their next dinner , and , what was more important still , who would there be to eat it ? They had made a rule always to dine off the smallest of the party , and when the fox was gone , why of course , he was smaller than the bear . These thoughts flashed quickly through his head , and he said hastily : ` Dear brothers , would it not be better for us to live together as comrades , and everyone to hunt for the common dinner ? Is not my plan a good one ? ' ` It is the best thing I have ever heard , ' answered the fox ; and as they were two to one the bear had to be content , though in his heart he would much have preferred a good dinner at once to any friendship . For a few days all went well ; there was plenty of game in the forest , and even the wolf had as much to eat as he could wish . One morning the fox as usual was going his rounds when he noticed a tall , slender tree , with a magpie 's nest in one of the top branches . Now the fox was particularly fond of young magpies , and he set about making a plan by which he could have one for dinner . At last he hit upon something which he thought would do , and accordingly he sat down near the tree and began to stare hard at it . ` What are you looking at , Michael ? ' asked the magpie , who was watching him from a bough . ` I 'm looking at this tree . It has just struck me what a good tree it would be to cut my new snow-shoes out of . ' But at this answer the magpie screeched loudly , and exclaimed : ` Oh , not this tree , dear brother , I implore you ! I have built my nest on it , and my young ones are not yet old enough to fly . ' ` It will not be easy to find another tree that would make such good snow-shoes , ' answered the fox , cocking his head on one side , and gazing at the tree thoughtfully ; ` but I do not like to be ill-natured , so if you will give me one of your young ones I will seek my snow-shoes elsewhere . ' Not knowing what to do the poor magpie had to agree , and flying back , with a heavy heart , he threw one of his young ones out of the nest .
The fox seized it in his mouth and ran off in triumph , while the magpie , though deeply grieved for the loss of his little one , found some comfort in the thought that only a bird of extraordinary wisdom would have dreamed XXXXX saving the rest by the sacrifice of the one .
at by for from in of on to upon with