They say that after that El-ahrairah wandered far and wide, and everywhere he went he gave the animals and birds good advice and help. He met mice and water rats and even an otter, which did him no harm; yet he seemed no nearer to what he was seeking.
At last, one day, he came to a great expanse of common land, where the black, peaty soil was covered with miles of heather, juniper and silver birch trees. Here, in the boggy places, there were fly-catching plants and marsh pimpernel, and the wheatears darted from place to place, saying nothing to El-ahrairah, for they did not know him. He went on as a stranger and at last, tired out, lay down in a sunny place, without a thought for the possibility that a stray stoat or weasel might happen along.
As he lay dozing, he felt the presence of some creature close by and opened his eyes, to see a snake watching him. He was not afraid of a snake, of course, and he greeted it and waited to hear what it would say.
"Cold!" said the snake at last. "How cold it is!"
It was a warm, sunny day, and El-ahrairah himself felt almost too snug in his fur. Rather gingerly, he put out one paw and touched the snake on its green length. It was indeed cold to the touch. He pondered on this but could think of no explanation.
They lay together on the grass for a long time, until at last El-ahrairah became aware of something which he had not noticed before.
"Your blood is not like ours," he said to the snake. "You have no pulse, have you?"
"What is a pulse?"
"Feel mine," said El-ahrairah.
The snake pressed closer and could feel El-ahrairah's pulse beating.
"That is the reason you are cold," said El-ahrairah. "Your blood is cold. Snake, you need to bask in the sun as much as you can. When you can't, you will feel sleepy. But when you can, it will warm your blood and make you lively. That's the answer to your problem--sunshine."
They lay in the sun for several hours more, until the snake began to feel active and ready to hunt for food.
"You are a good friend, El-ahrairah," said the snake. "I have heard of the many creatures you have helped with your good advice. I will give you a gift. I will give you the hypnotic power of the snake that is in my eyes. But whatever you use it for, use it quickly, for it will not last. Now stare at me!"
El-ahrairah looked steadily into the snake's eyes and felt his willpower dissolve and even his power to move. At length the snake removed its gaze. "That's right," it said. So El-ahrairah got up and bade it farewell.
Now he began his journey back to his home warren. It was a long way, and it was not until the following evening that he found himself approaching the place.
Now, the story tells that across El-ahrairah's way there ran a brook and that the brook was crossed by a little bridge. And here, on the bridge, El-ahrairah paused to wait, for he knew in his heart what would happen.
Presently, out of the woods above him, came the fox. El-ahrairah saw it coming, and his heart misgave him, yet he remained where he was on the bridge until the fox actually lay down beside him, licking its lips.
"A rabbit!" said the fox. "Upon my life, a plump, fresh rabbit. What luck!"
So then El-ahrairah said to the fox, "Fox you may smell, and fox you may be, but I can tell your fortune in the water."
"Ah ha!" said the fox. "Tell my fortune in the water, eh? And what do you see in the water, my friend? Fat rabbits running on the grass, yes, yes?"
"No," said El-ahrairah. "It is not fat rabbits that I see, but swift hounds on the scent and my enemy flying for his life."
And with this he turned and looked the fox full in the eyes. The fox stared back at him, and he knew that it could not avert its gaze. It seemed to shrink and dwindle before him. And as it did so, El-ahrairah seemed to see, as in a dream, great hounds loping down the hill and even faintly to hear them giving tongue.
"Go," whispered El-ahrairah to the fox. "Go, and never return!"
As though bemused, the fox got up, staggered to the edge of the bridge and half leaped, half fell over it into the water below. Watching, El-ahrairah saw
it floating downstream. It struggled out on the further bank and slunk away among the bushes.
El-ahrairah, exhausted by the terrible encounter, turned and made his way home to his warren, where all were overjoyed to see him. The fox and its mate disappeared from the neighborhood. They must have told their story, for no other foxes took their place, and the warren had peace; as we do now, Frith be thanked and praised.
5
The Hole in the Sky
Then shall he answer them, saying,
Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to