In fact, Napatantutu was exactly thekind of a home the fox was looking for,dragon and all, and he was quite sure hecould pass a thousand quiet years herewithout ever hearing the bark of a dog.He no longer jumped at the sound ofevery crackling twig or put his ear to theground before he sat down to rest, andoften he would lie for hours on some coolknoll licking his paws and thinking upsome prank to play on his neighbors. Andhe grew fat and saucy and lazy, andwhisked his one insignificant tail proudlyas he walked.