Mytyl uttered piercing screams.
"Don't be afraid," said Tyltyl, doing his best to protect her. "I have my knife."
"The little chap means to die game!" said the Cock.
"That's the one I shall eat first," said the Pig, eyeing Mytyl greedily.
"What have I done to all of you?" asked Tyltyl.
"Nothing at all, my little man," said the Sheep. "Eaten my little brother, my two sisters, my three uncles, my aunt, my grandpapa and my grandmamma.... Wait, wait, when you're down, you shall see that I have teeth also...."
And so the Sheep and the Horse, who were the greatest cowards, waited for the little fellow to be knocked down before they dared take their share in the spoil.
While they were talking, the Wolf and the Bear treacherously attacked Tyltyl from behind and pushed him over. It was an awful moment. All the Animals, seeing him on the ground, tried to get at him. The boy raised himself to one knee and brandished his knife. Mytyl uttered yells of distress; and, to crown all, it suddenly became dark.
Tyltyl called wildly for assistance:
"Help! Help!... Tylô! Tylô!... To the rescue!... Where is Tylette?... Come! Come!..."