Before he had finished it began to rain heavily , so he hid himself in the 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 ca n't put him to some use . Fetch the skin of the ram which died last week out of the chest , and we will sew the wolf up in it . He will make a splendid ram , and to-morrow we will drive him to the fair and sell him . ' Very likely the wolf , who was cunning and clever , may have understood what she said , but he thought it best to give no sign , and suffered the skin to be sewn upon him . ' I can always get away if I choose , ' thought he , ` it is better not to be in a hurry ; ' so he remained quite still while the skin was drawn over his head , which made him very hot and uncomfortable , and resisted the temptation to snap off the fingers or noses that were so close to his mouth . The fair was at its height next day when Toueno-Boueno arrived with his wolf in ram 's clothing . All the farmers crowded round him , each offering a higher price than the last . Never had they beheld such a beautiful beast , said they , and at last , after much bargaining , he was handed over to three brothers for a good sum of money . It happened that these three brothers owned large flocks of sheep , though none so large and fine as the one they had just bought .
` My flock is the nearest , ' observed the eldest brother ; ` we will leave him in the fold for the night , and XXXXX we will decide which pastures will be best for him . '
chest hand house idea price stone temptation to-morrow use wolf