“What nonsense are you repeating?” asked Farmer Iron in a derisive tone.
“Well,” said the wolf, “it is a little prayer for you, but give me a potato, my stomach feels quite hollow and empty.”
Farmer Iron held out a potato. The wolf was about to swallow it when Farmer Iron suddenly pulled a string and upset the cauldron of dried peas, which made a great noise as they ran out on the attic floor.
“Whatever is it, whatever is it?” asked the frightened wolf.
“The police who are tracking you down,” answered Farmer Iron, laughing. “They want to hang you for eating Farmer Broom and Farmer Leaves.”
“Good heavens, Farmer Iron, my friend, tell me where I can hide,” begged the wolf.
“Quick, climb into the attic,” said Farmer Iron. “I will not betray you.”
The wolf rushed to the ladder. Farmer Iron took a large saucepan of boiling water off the fire and put it down at the foot of the ladder. The wolf was in such a hurry that he slipped and fell into the saucepan, and was terribly scalded. Farmer Iron pulled him out, cut him open, and, oh, what joy! Farmer Broom and Farmer Leaves came out alive, each carrying his knife with a potato on the end.
They all three lifted up the wolf and threw him outside, and each returned to his own hut.