The rat caught beetles which had hidden under leaves. He visited
fields and barns Now and then he went to a henhouse.

The tortoise found plenty of insects in the woods and fields and
did not object to a toadstool now and then.

The raven visited grain fields where he often met the rat.

The gazelle ate grass wherever he could find it. When he could not
get grass, he ate the sprouts of trees.

At night all met at their home in the woods and talked of what had
happened to them through the day. This is one of their adventures:

One day when the gazelle was out feeding, a hound scented his
tracks and followed him. The gazelle heard the hound bark and
darted off like the wind. The hound followed until worn out with
running; then he gave up the chase. The gazelle stopped to eat
grass. He was hungry and a long way from home.

That evening when the animals returned home they missed the
gazelle.

The raven asked, "How does it happen that the gazelle is not home?
Is he tired of us already?" "No, indeed," said the rat. "I am sure
that he is not. If I were a bird I should fly away at once to find
him. I know that he would be here if he could get here."

"I will see if I can find him," said the raven, and he flew away.
After a while he spied the gazelle, who had been caught in a net.