farmers' sheep.

"How I should like to meet that wolf," said little Gilbert.

He was only seven years old, but now all his thoughts were about the
savage beast that was in the forest.

"Shall we take a walk this morning?" asked his mother.

"Oh, yes!" said Gilbert. "Perhaps we may see that wolf among the trees.
But don't be afraid."

His mother smiled, for she felt quite sure that there was no danger.

They did not go far into the woods. The mother sat down in the shade
of a tree and began to read in a new book which she had bought the day
before. The boy played on the grass near by.

The sun was warm. The bees were buzzing among the flowers. The small
birds were singing softly. Gilbert looked up from his play and saw
that his mother was very deeply interested in her book.

"Now for the wolf!" he said to himself.

He walked quickly, but very quietly, down the pathway into the darker
woods. He looked eagerly around, but saw only a squirrel frisking among
the trees and a rabbit hopping across the road.

Soon he came to a wilder place. There the bushes were very close
together and the pathway came to an end. He pushed the bushes aside