“The better to see you, my dear,” answered the wolf.
“But, oh grandmother, what long, long ears you have.”
“The better to hear you, my dear!”
“But, grandmother, what big sharp white teeth you have!”
“The better to eat you!” howled the wolf, and he sprang out of bed and caught Red Riding-Hood by the cloak.
The little girl cried out, but at this moment the woodcutter burst open the door and rushed in. The howl had awakened him from his sleep, and just in time. He struck the wolf such a blow on the head that it fell down dead.
Then he took Red Riding-Hood up in his arms and comforted her, for she was crying bitterly. She was frightened and her pretty red cloak had been torn. He wiped her eyes, and promised to walk home with her, but first, he said, they must wait until the grandmother came home.
When she came at last, and heard the story and saw the wolf lying there on the floor, she could not thank the woodcutter enough. And indeed, if it had not been for him the little girl would certainly have been eaten by the wolf.
But from then on Red Riding-Hood was careful to obey her mother, and not to loiter on the way when she was sent on errands.