The Fox and the Kestrel

The Kestrel was basking in the sun, sitting on warm stones by the river, and didn’t notice how the red Fox crept up to her. In a flash—the Fox leaped and found herself next to the dozing bird, grabbing her in her claws.

"Don’t eat me, Fox!" pleaded the Kestrel. "Let me go, and I’ll lay you an egg—bigger than your head!"

The Fox decided she had caught no ordinary bird but a special one, and she so desired to get this extraordinary egg that she released the little bird.

The Kestrel flew up into a tree and, feeling safe, began to tease the foolish Fox:

"I won’t lay you an egg bigger than your head—I can’t lay such an egg! But I can give you three pieces of advice. Remember them, they’ll come in handy. My first piece of advice: don’t believe empty tales! Second: you can’t make an elephant out of a fly. And third…" The Kestrel looked at the hungry Fox and finished: "If you catch something, hold onto it!"

More fairy tales

• The Baker's Daughter
• The Lazy Beauty and Her Aunts
• Thomas the Rhymester
• Jack and the Beanstalk
• Tom Thumb and the Big Princess