The Farmer raised his ax.
“Don’t really chop me!” the Bear begged in a whisper. “Just pretend to.”
“This is too good a log to chop up,” the Farmer said.
“Well, father,” said the voice from the bushes, “if it’s such a good log you better put it on your sledge and take it home.”
“Lie still,” the Farmer whispered, “while I put you on the sledge.”
So the Bear lay stiff and quiet and the Farmer dragged him on to the sledge.
“Father,” the voice said, “you better tie that log down to keep it from rolling off.”
“Don’t move,” the Farmer whispered, “and I’ll tie you down just as if you were a log.”
So the Bear lay perfectly still while the Farmer lashed him securely to the sledge.
“Father, are you sure that log can’t roll off?”