Once, an eagle made a nest high up in the top of a tree.  She had one baby in the nest, and everyday she flew out to find insects to feed that baby.  An old eagle would stay at the nest to care for the baby while its mother was away.

    One day, a fox saw the eagle fly to and from the nest looking for something to feed her baby and the old eagle.   The fox wanted to eat the baby eagle, so he came to stay in the tree.  He spoke to the old eagle,  "We used to be very good cousins,*  I would like to come and visit you because I miss you all a lot."

    When the old eagle heard the fox say this, he felt good.  He answered, "If you thought as much of us as you now say, then, we would like to have you come to visit us too, but not right now.   You'll have to wait until the mother eagle flies out tomorrow; then you can come."

    The fox asked innocently, "Why must I wait until then?"   The old eagle answered, "If you come to visit right now, the mother eagle will beat you."

    So, the fox had to wait for the mother to leave the nest.  When he saw the baby's mother fly away, he began to climb the tree to visit the old eagle.  Reaching the top, the fox looked at the old eagle and said, "Poor fellow, you look so tired.  I would like you to take a rest and get some sleep.  I'll watch the baby for you for awhile, and then I will return home."

    As soon as the fox was sure the old eagle was asleep, he started to eat the baby eagle. 

    The poor mother eagle returned to the nest to find nothing but her baby's bones. The fox was already long gone.