Thesummerwentbywithoutanythingparticularhappening，exceptthatmybrotherwiththelamefootwaseatenbythemotherfox。Thatgreatredbeastwasalwaysprowlingabout，andatnightsurprisedusinafieldnearthewoodwherewewerefeedingonsomebeautifulturnips。
Therestofusgotaway，butmybrotherbeinglame，wasnotquickenough。Thefoxcaughthim，andIheardhersharpwhiteteethcrunchintohisbones。Thesoundmademequitesick，andmymotherwasverysadafterwards。Shecomplainedtomyfatherofthecrueltyoffoxes，buthe，who，asIhavesaid，wasaphilosopher，answeredheralmostinherownwords。
\"Foxesmustlive，andthisonehasyoungtofeed，andthereforeisalwayshungry。Therearethreeoftheminaholeatthetopofthewood，\"heremarked。\"Alsooursonwaslameandwouldcertainlyhavebeencaughtwhenthehuntingbegins。\"
\"What’sthehunting？\"Iasked。
\"Nevermind，\"saidmyfathersharply。\"Nodoubtyou’llfindoutintime，thatisifyoulivethroughtheshooting。\"