A Hare was very popular with the other beasts who all claimed

　　to be her friends. But one day she heard the hounds approaching

　　and hoped to escape them by the aid of her many Friends. So, she

　　went to the horse, and asked him to carry her away from the hounds

　　on his back. But he declined, stating that he had important work

　　to do for his master. "He felt sure," he said, "that all her

　　other friends would come to her assistance." She then applied1 to

　　the bull, and hoped that he would repel2 the hounds with his horns.

　　The bull replied: "I am very sorry, but I have an appointment with

　　a lady; but I feel sure that our friend the goat will do what you

　　want." The goat, however, feared that his back might do her some

　　harm if he took her upon it. The ram3, he felt sure, was the

　　proper friend to apply to. So she went to the ram and told him

　　the case. The ram replied: "Another time, my dear friend. I do

　　not like to interfere4 on the present occasion, as hounds have been

　　known to eat sheep as well as hares." The Hare then applied, as a

　　last hope, to the calf5, who regretted that he was unable to help

　　her, as he did not like to take the responsibility upon himself,

　　as so many older persons than himself had declined the task. By

　　this time the hounds were quite near, and the Hare took to her

　　heels and luckily escaped.

　　He that has many friends, has no friends.