Next the Fox came to a huge flock of a thousand sheep tended by thirty shepherds all dressed in the Worm’s blue smocks. He stopped and talked to them until he had them roaring out:
“We are Mighty Mikko’s men!”
Then the Fox trotted on until he reached the castle of the Worm. He found the Worm himself inside lolling lazily about. He was a huge dragon and had been a great warrior in his day. In fact his castle and his lands and his servants and his possessions had all been won in battle. But now for many years no one had cared to fight him and he had grown fat and lazy.
“Good day,” the Fox said, pretending to be very breathless and frightened. “You’re the Worm, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” the dragon said, boastfully, “I am the great Worm!”
The Fox pretended to grow more agitated.
“My poor fellow, I am sorry for you! But of course none of us can expect to live forever. Well, I must hurry along. I thought I would just stop and say good-by.”
Made uneasy by the Fox’s words, the Worm cried out:
“Wait just a minute! What’s the matter?”
The Fox was already at the door but at the Worm’s entreaty he paused and said over his shoulder: