The Fox and the Goat

A thirsty fox once wandered through the countryside, desperately seeking a drink of water. After wandering for miles, he stumbled upon a deep, narrow well. In his haste and exhaustion, he leaned over the edge to reach the water, but lost his balance and tumbled in. The well was deep, and its walls were slick with moss, making it impossible for him to climb back out on his own.

Hours passed, and just as the sun began to set, a thirsty goat approached the well. Peering down into the darkness, he spotted the fox and called out, 'Is the water good down there, friend?'

The wily fox, seeing a chance to escape, put on a cheerful face. 'Oh, it is the finest, sweetest water I have ever tasted!' he exclaimed, licking his chops. 'I could stay here all day. Why don't you hop down and join me?'

The goat, blinded by his own thirst and failing to consider how he might get back out, leaped into the well without a second thought. As soon as he splashed into the water, the fox scrambled onto the goat’s sturdy back, climbed up his long horns, and pulled himself out onto the dry earth.

Without a backward glance, the fox began to trot away. The goat, now trapped in the deep, dark well, cried out in alarm, 'Wait! How am I to get out?'

The fox paused only for a moment, looking over his shoulder with a sly grin. 'Had you the sense to match your beard, my friend,' the fox chuckled, 'you would have inspected the walls before jumping into a place from which there is no return.' With that, the fox vanished into the shadows, leaving the poor, foolish goat to his fate.