hollow trunk of a tree, where he was so dry and comfortable that
he soon fell fast asleep. By and by he was awakened by a noise
which sounded like a dog scratching at the door, and he suddenly
felt frightened, why he did not know. Very cautiously he raised
his head, and right above him he saw a big hairy animal, coming
down tail foremost.

'It is the wolf that they talk so much about,' he said to
himself, and he made himself as small as he could and shrunk into
a corner.

The wolf came down the inside of the tree, slowly, slowly;
Antoine felt turned to stone, so terrified was he, and hardly
dared to breathe. Suddenly an idea entered his mind, which he
thought might save him still. He remembered to have heard from
his mother that a wolf could neither bend his back nor turn his
head, so as to look behind him, and quick as lightning he
stretched up his hand, and seizing the wolf's tail, pulled it
towards him.

Then he left the tree and dragged the animal to his mother's
house.

'Mother, you have often declared that I was too stupid to catch a
wolf by the tail. Now see,' he cried triumphantly.

'Well, well, wonders will never cease,' answered the good woman,
who took care to keep at a safe distance. 'But as you really have
got him, let us see if we can't put him to some use. Fetch the
skin of the ram which died last week out of the chest, and we