A Fox was one day talking to a Wolf about the strength of man.
'No animals,' he said, 'could withstand man, and they were obliged touse cunning to hold their own against him.'
The Wolf answered, 'If ever I happened to see a man, I should attackhim all the same.'
'Well, I can help you to that,' said the Fox. 'Come to me earlyto-morrow, and I will show you one!'
The Wolf was early astir, and the Fox took him out to a road in theforest, traversed daily by a Huntsman.
First came an old discharged soldier.
'Is that a Man?' asked the Wolf.
'No,' answered the Fox. 'He has been a Man.'
After that, a little boy appeared on his way to school.
'Is that a Man?'
'No; he is going to be a Man.'
At last the Huntsman made his appearance, his gun on his back, and hishunting-knife at his side. The Fox said to the Wolf,--
'Look! There comes a Man. You may attack him, but I will make off tomy hole!'
The Wolf set on the Man, who said to himself when he saw him, 'What apity my gun isn't loaded with ball,' and fired a charge of shot in theWolf's face. The Wolf made a wry face, but he was not to be so easilyfrightened, and attacked him again. Then the Huntsman gave him thesecond charge. The Wolf swallowed the pain, and rushed at theHuntsman; but he drew his bright hunting-knife, and hit out right andleft with it, so that, streaming with blood, the Wolf ran back to theFox.
'Well, brother Wolf,' said the Fox, 'and how did you get on with theMan?'
'Alas!' said the Wolf. 'I never thought the strength of man would bewhat it is. First, he took a stick from his shoulder, and blew intoit, and something flew into my face, which tickled frightfully. Thenhe blew into it again, and it flew into my eyes and nose likelightning and hail. Then he drew a shining rib out of his body, andstruck at me with it till I was more dead than alive.'
'Now, you see,' said the Fox, 'what a braggart you are. You throw yourhatchet so far that you can't get it back again.'