Two men were traveling in company along the road when one of them picked up a well-filled purse. So he commanded that all animals with horns should leave his domains within twenty-four hours. To the Cat it was almost as if he already had a plump young Mouse under his claws, when an old Rat, who had had much experience with Cats and traps, and had even lost a part of his tail to pay for it, sat up at a safe distance from a hole in the wall where he lived. He was very angry to think that any animal that he chose for a meal, should be so brazen as to wear such dangerous things as horns to scratch him while he ate. Just then they heard a shout of Stop, thief! No, answered the honest Woodman, that is not my axe. With each pebble the water rose a little higher until at last it was near enough so he could drink.
Common sense is always worth more than cunning.