Page 364 sur 626

The mother, however, said: 'Now go and look for some big stones,

and we will fill the wicked beast's stomach with them while he is

still asleep.' Then the seven kids dragged the stones thither

with all speed, and put as many of them into this stomach as they

could get in; and the mother sewed him up again in the greatest

haste, so that he was not aware of anything and never once

stirred.

When the wolf at length had had his fill of sleep, he got on his

legs, and as the stones in his stomach made him very thirsty, he

wanted to go to a well to drink. But when he began to walk and to

move about, the stones in his stomach knocked against each other

and rattled. Then cried he:

'What rumbles and tumbles Against my poor bones? I thought 'twas

six kids, But it feels like big stones.'