“Won’t you take Bichonne with you?” his wife called after him.
But Bichonne was already far ahead—so far that Brisquet immediately lost sight of her.
In vain he shouted, “Biscotin! Biscotine!” There was no answer.
Then he burst into tears for he believed that the children were lost.
When he had run a great way he thought he heard Bichonne’s bark. With his good axe above his head he dashed through the thicket in the direction of the sound.
Bichonne had reached the spot at the very moment a huge wolf was about to spring upon the children. She had flung herself between, barking furiously so that she might warn Brisquet.
With one stroke of his good axe the woodman laid the wolf lifeless, but it was too late to save Bichonne. She was already dead.