farewell to the old man, and departed to the forest. He bent his
steps to the dwelling of the Tanuki and knocked at the door. The
Tanuki, who had no cause to suspect the hare, was greatly pleased
to see him, for he noticed the hatchet at once, and began to lay
plots how to get hold of it.

To do this he thought he had better offer to accompany the hare,
which was exactly what the hare wished and expected, for he knew
all the Tanuki's cunning, and understood his little ways. So he
accepted the rascal's company with joy, and made himself very
pleasant as they strolled along. When they were wandering in
this manner through the forest the hare carelessly raised his
hatchet in passing, and cut down some thick boughs that were
hanging over the path, but at length, after cutting down a good
big tree, which cost him many hard blows, he declared that it
was too heavy for him to carry home, and he must just leave it
where it was. This delighted the greedy Tanuki, who said that
they would be no weight for him, so they collected the large
branches, which the hare bound tightly on his back. Then he
trotted gaily to the house, the hare following after with his
lighter bundle.

By this time the hare had decided what he would do, and as soon
as they arrived, he quietly set on fire the wood on the back of
the Tanuki. The Tanuki, who was busy with something else,
observed nothing, and only called out to ask what was the meaning
of the crackling that he heard. 'It is just the rattle of the
stones which are rolling down the side of the mountain,' the hare
said; and the Tanuki was content, and made no further remarks,
never noticing that the noise really sprang from the burning