Osmo stood there swaying his shoulders and twisting his head.
“Even if he is lazy he’ll taste all right to me. Come along, Mr. Farmer, hand him over as you’ve promised to do this long time!”
“But I can’t afford to give you my Horse!” the Farmer cried. “He’s the only Horse I’ve got!”
But the Bear was firm.
“No matter! You have to keep your word!”
“See here,” the Farmer begged, “let me off on giving you my Horse and I tell you what I’ll do: I’ll give you my Cow. I can spare the Cow better.”
“When will you give me the Cow?” the Bear asked.
“To-morrow,” the Farmer promised.
“Very well,” Osmo said, “if you deliver me the Cow to-morrow I’ll let you off on the Horse. But see you keep your word!”
On his way home that afternoon the Farmer visited his traps. In one he found Mikko, the Fox. Mikko, the little rascal, begged for his life so piteously that the Farmer with a laugh freed him.