“I’m a three-year-old heifer, stuffed with straw and daubed with tar.”
“Then give me some of your tar to smear my sides with, when those dogs and sons of dogs tear my hide!”
“Take some,” said the ox. Then the fox fastened her teeth in him and couldn’t draw them out again. The old woman told her old man, and he took and cast the fox into the cellar in the same way. And after that they caught Pussy Swiftfoot[[5]] likewise.
[5]. The hare.
So when he had got them all safely the old man sat down on a bench before the cellar and began sharpening a knife. And the bear said to him:
“Tell me, daddy, what are you sharpening your knife for?”
“To flay your skin off, that I may make a leather jacket for myself and a pelisse for my old woman.”
“Oh, don’t flay me, daddy dear! Rather let me go, and I’ll bring you a lot of honey.”
“Very well, see you do it,” and he unbound and let the bear go. Then he sat down on the bench and again began sharpening his knife. And the wolf asked him:
“Daddy, what are you sharpening your knife for?”