The Wolf and the Man

Once upon a time, the fox was talking to the wolf about how strong humans are. No animal could stand up to them, and all beasts had to use trickery to stay safe. The wolf replied, "If I ever saw a man, I would attack him anyway!" The fox said, "I can help you with that. Come to me early tomorrow morning, and I'll show you one."

The wolf came early, and the fox led him to a path where hunters walked every day. First, an old soldier came by. "Is that a man?" asked the wolf. "No," said the fox, "that was one." Then a little boy on his way to school appeared. "Is that a man?" "No, that is going to be one." Finally, a hunter came with a double-barreled gun on his back and a sword at his side. The fox said, "Look, there comes a man. You must attack him, but I will go to my den."

The wolf rushed at the man. When the hunter saw him, he said, "Too bad I don't have a bullet," but he aimed and fired small shot into the wolf's face. The wolf made an ugly face but didn't get scared. He attacked again, and the hunter fired his second barrel. The wolf ignored the pain and charged once more. The hunter drew his shiny sword and slashed the wolf several times, left and right, until the wolf, bleeding everywhere, ran howling back to the fox.

"Well, brother wolf," said the fox, "how did you get along with the man?" "Oh," replied the wolf, "I never imagined a man's strength was like this! First, he took a stick from his shoulder and blew into it, and something flew into my face that tickled terribly. Then he breathed into it again, and it flew into my nose like lightning and hail. When I got very close, he pulled a white rib from his side and beat me so hard I almost died."

"See what a braggart you are!" said the fox. "You throw your hatchet so far you can't fetch it back!"