The Stag and the Hedgehog

    A stag and a hedgehog once bought a field of wheat together，hoping to grow enough food to keep them through the Winter．All went well until the wheat began to turn golden² in the Summer sun．Then，one day，they noticed that wild animals had broken through the hedge¹ and were feeding in the field．“We must guard the grain，”said the hedgehog anxiously，“or there will be nothing left by harvest time．”
    The stag was chosen to keep watch． Very soon，however，the hedgehog found that he was not doing his job properly．Instead of keeping other animals away，he joined them in trampling³ among the wheat，eating the ripest plants．“This is no good，”said the hedgehog．“I'll be the guard from no won．”
    Though the hedgehog was small he was so watchful，and he sounded so cross and looked so prickly that the other animals kept well out of his way and he managed to save most of the crops．Harvest time came．Then came the difficult matter of dividing the grain．“I should have the larger share，”said the stag ．“I am bigger than you are and I need more food．”
    “I did all the work，”retorted the hedgehog．“and I have a grow－ing family to feed．We should have half each．”
    The two animals just could not reach an agreement．On the third day of their argument the stag invited a friend of his，a wild boar，to act as a judge．“Will you agree to do what I say？”asked the boar．“Yes，”said the stag．“Yes，”said the hedgehog．“Then you must run a race．The winner of the race will have the whole harvest．I think that's fair．”The boar winked⁴ at the stag when the hedgehog was not looking．“It's not fair， it's not fair，”said the hedgehog，“How can I win a race against a stag？”
    The hedgehog went home sadly，wondering how be could find enough food to keep his family through the Winter．“What is the mater with you？”asked his wife as sat down glumly⁵．“We'll think of something，”she said when she had heard the story．“We won't let that scheming⁶ stag have everything his own way．I think I have a plan．You and I look very alike，don't we？I'm sure the stag cannot tell us apart and the boar doesn't even know you have a wife．This is what we'll do．You start running with the stag at the beginning of the race and I'll stand near the finish line．As soon as I see him coming I'll start running as fast as I can．I'll make sure I get over the line first．Then the wheat will all be ours．After the way he has treated you，he doesn't deserve⁷ a grain of it．”
    The stag and the boar never did discover how the slow little hedgehog managed to run so fast．But the hedgehog family had enough food in their larder⁸ this Winter to feed themselves and all their hungry friends and relations too．You may have to fight people who cheat with their own weapons．Exercises：
    判断对（T）、错（F）：
    ①The stag and the hedgehog once bought a field of wheat to keep them through the Winter．②They agreed to have half each at first．③In the end，the hedgehog got half of the harvest．

1 hedge   

n.树篱；障碍物；vt.用篱笆围；vi.避免直接回答

参考例句：

• The gardener trimmed the hedge.那位园林工人修剪了树篱。
• He squeezed through a gap in the hedge.他从树篱的缺口处挤过去。

2 golden   

adj.金的，含金的，可贵的，金色的，贵重的，繁盛的

参考例句：

• My teacher is an Englishman with golden hair.我的老师是一个金黄色头发的英国人。
• It's a balmy evening,the golden time for lovers.这是一个暖和的夜晚，是恋人们的黄金时光。

3 trampling   

踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯

参考例句：

• Diplomats denounced the leaders for trampling their citizens' civil rights. 外交官谴责这些领导人践踏其公民的公民权。
• They don't want people trampling the grass, pitching tents or building fires. 他们不希望人们踩踏草坪、支帐篷或生火。

4 winked   

v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮

参考例句：

• He winked at her and she knew he was thinking the same thing that she was. 他冲她眨了眨眼，她便知道他的想法和她一样。
• He winked his eyes at her and left the classroom. 他向她眨巴一下眼睛走出了教室。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 glumly   

adv.忧郁地，闷闷不乐地；阴郁地

参考例句：

• He stared at it glumly, and soon became lost in thought. 他惘然沉入了瞑想。 来自子夜部分
• The President sat glumly rubbing his upper molar, saying nothing. 总统愁眉苦脸地坐在那里，磨着他的上牙，一句话也没有说。 来自辞典例句

6 scheming   

adj. 诡计多端的，计划的 动词scheme的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• It is clear that they are scheming against each other. 很清楚，他们彼此勾心斗角。
• The enemies are scheming her downfall. 敌人正在策划使她垮台。

7 deserve   

vt.应受，值得；vi. 应受报答，值得受赏

参考例句：

• You really deserve a good beating,you naughty boy.你这个调皮孩子真该打。
• I do not deserve all the praises bestowed upon me.我不配得到这些赞扬。

8 larder   

n.食物贮藏室，食品橱

参考例句：

• Please put the food into the larder.请将您地食物放进食物柜内。
• They promised never to raid the larder again.他们答应不再随便开食橱拿东西吃了。