they will take their little child with them because there will be nobody left at home. During their work they usually lay it under the hedge in the shade; you lie down as though to guard it. I will then come out of the wood and steal the child. You must rush quickly after me, as though you wanted to rescue the child. I will let it fall, and you will take it back to its parents again; they will think that you have saved it, and will be far too thankful to do you any harm. On the contrary, you will come into high favour, and they will never let you want again.’
The plot pleased the dog, and it was carried out just as it was planned. The father cried out when he saw the Wolf run across the field with his child in its mouth; but when old Sultan brought it back he was overjoyed, stroked him, and said: ‘Not a hair of your coat shall be hurt; you shall have plenty to eat as long as you live.’ Then he said to his wife: ‘Go home immediately and prepare some broth for old Sultan which he won’t need to bite, and bring the pillow out of my bed. I will give it to him to lie upon.’
Henceforward old Sultan was as well off as he could wish. Soon afterwards the Wolf paid him a visit, and rejoiced that all had turned out so well. ‘But, comrade,’ he said, ‘you must shut your eyes. Suppose some fine day I carry off one of your master’s fat sheep? Nowadays it is hard to get one’s living.’
‘Don’t count on that,’ answered the dog. ‘I must remain true to my master—I shall never permit it?’
The Wolf, thinking that he had not spoken in earnest, came and crept in at night, and tried to carry off a sheep. But the peasant, to whom the faithful Sultan had betrayed the Wolf’s intention, spied him and belaboured him soundly with a threshing-flail. The Wolf was forced to retreat, but he called out to the dog, ‘Wait a bit, you wicked creature—you shall suffer for this.’
The next morning he sent the Boar to invite the Dog into the wood, there to settle matters by a duel. Old Sultan could