The Wolf and the Man
Once upon a time the fox was talking to the
wolf of the strength of man. How no animal could withstand him, and how all were obliged
to emply cunning in order to protect themselves from him. Then the wolf answered, if I had
but the chance of seeing a man for once, I would set on him notwithstanding. I can help
you to do that, said the fox. Come to me early to-morrow morning, and I will show you one.
The wolf presented himself betimes, and the fox took him out on the road by which the
huntsmen went daily. First came an old discharged soldier. Is that a man, inquired the
wolf. No, answered the fox, that was one. Afterwards came a little boy who was going to
school. Is that a man. No, that will be one. At length came a hunter with his
double-barelled gun at his back, and hanger by his side. Said the fox to the wolf, look,
there comes a man, you must attack him, but I will take myself off to my hole. The wolf
then rushed on the man. When the huntsman saw him he said, it is a pity that I have not
loaded with a bullet, aimed, and fired his small shot in his face. The wolf pulled a very
wry grimace, but did not let himself be frightened, and attacked him again, on which the
huntsman gave him the second barrel. The wolf swallowed his pain, and rushed on the
huntsman, but he drew out his bright hanger, and gave him a few cuts with it right and
left, so that, bleeding everywhere, he ran howling back to the fox. Well, brother wolf,
said the fox, how have you got on with man. Ah, replied the wolf, I never imagined the
strength of man to be what it is. First, he took a stick from his shoulder, and blew into
it, and then something flew into my face which tickled me terribly. Then he breathed once
more into the stick, and it flew into my nose like lightning and hail. When I was quite
close, he drew a white rib out of his body, and he beat me so with it that I was all but
left lying dead. See what a braggart you are, said the fox. You throw your hatchet so far
that you cannot fetch it back again.
--The End-- |
