The little old woman ran after him, but the gingerbread man laughed and called out: “Run! run! as fast as you can! You can’t catch me! I’m the gingerbread man.”
And sure enough, she could not catch him.
The gingerbread man ran past a pasture where there was a horse.
“Stop!” said the horse. “You look good to eat.” But the gingerbread man laughed and said: “Run! run! as fast as you can. The old woman can’t catch me, and you can’t catch me, for I am the gingerbread man.” And sure enough, the horse could not catch him.
He ran on down the road and soon he met a cow.
“Stop!” said the cow. “I want to eat you.” But the gingerbread man laughed again and said:
“Run run! as fast as you can! The old woman, and the horse and you can’t catch me, for I am the gingerbread man.” And sure enough, the cow could not catch him.
By and by the gingerbread man ran past a field where the men were cutting hay. They smelled the gingerbread and tried to lay hold of the little man. But he laughed and said:
“Run! run! as fast as you can! The old woman and the horse and the cow and you can’t catch me, for I am the gingerbread man.” And sure enough, the men could not catch him.
Then he met a fox just as he came to a river. “Run! run! as fast as you can,” said the gingerbread man. “Why?” said the fox. “Because they will catch you,” said the gingerbread man.