“Very well,” says the fox, “we’ll rattle them up a bit;” and so he did, and this was how. He was hungry for the honey, was the Great Red Fox. “See, now,” said he, “I am sick to-day, and I will just go and see the Master Doctor over yonder.” But it was not the doctor he went to; no, off he marched to the storehouse, and there he ate part of the honey. After that he laid out in the sun and toasted his skin, for that is pleasant after a great dinner. By and by he went home again. “Well,” says Uncle Bear, “and how do you feel now?” “Oh, well enough,” says the Great Red Fox. “And was the medicine bitter?” says Uncle Bear. “Oh, no, it was good enough,” says the Great Red Fox. “And how much did the doctor give you?” says Uncle Bear. “Oh, about one part of a pot full,” says the Red Fox. Dear, dear! thinks Uncle Bear, that is a great deal of medicine to take, for sure and certain. Well, things went on as smoothly as though the wheels were greased, until by and by the fox grew hungry for a taste of honey again; and this time he had to go over yonder and see his aunt. Off he went to the storehouse, and there he ate all the honey he wanted, and then, after he had slept a bit in the sun, he went back home again. “Well,” says Uncle Bear, “and did you see your aunt?” “Oh, yes,” says the Great Red Fox, “I saw her.” “And did she give you anything?” says Uncle Bear. “Oh, yes, she gave me a trifle,” says the Great Red Fox. “And what was it she gave you?” says Uncle Bear. “Why, she gave me another part of a pot full, that was all,” says the Great Red Fox. “Dear, dear! but that is a queer thing to give,” says Uncle Bear. By and by the Great Red Fox was thinking of honey again, and now it was a christening he had to go to. Off he went to the pot of honey, and this time he finished it all and licked the pot into the bargain. And had everything gone smoothly at the christening? That was what Uncle Bear wanted to know. “Oh, smoothly enough,” says the Great Red Fox. “And did they have a christening feast?” says Uncle Bear. “Oh, yes, they had that,” says the Great Red Fox. “And what did they have?” says Uncle Bear. “Oh, everything that was in the pot,” says the Great Red Fox. “Dear, dear,” says Uncle Bear, “but they must have been a hungry set at that christening.” Well, one day Uncle Bear says, “We’ll have a feast and eat up the pot of honey and the big cheese, and we’ll ask Father Goat over to help us.” That suited the Great Red Fox well enough, so off he went to the storehouse to fetch the pot of honey and the cheese; as for Uncle Bear he went to ask Father Goat to come and help them eat up the good things. [Illustration: The Great Red Fox goeth to the storehouse and helps himself to the good things. ¶] “See, now,” says the Great Red Fox to himself, “the pot of honey and the big cheese belong together, and it is a pity to part them.” So down he sat without more ado, and when he got up again the cheese was all inside of him.