A Fox fell into a well, and was holding hard to some roots at the side of it, just above the water. A Wolf who was passing by saw him, and said, "Hollo, Reynard; after all you have fallen into a well!"  
"But not without a purpose, and not without the means of getting out of it," said the Fox.
 
"What do you mean?" said the Wolf.
 
"Why," said the Fox, "there is a drought all over the country now, and the water in this well is the only means of appeasing the thirst of the thousands that live in this neighbourhood. They held a meeting, and requested me to keep the water from going down lower; so I am holding it up for the public good."
 
"What will be your reward?" asked the Wolf.
 
"They will give me a pension, and save me the trouble of going about every day in quest of food, not to speak of innumerable other privileges that............