"My dear fox! bite Hairlock, for Hairlock won't come home in good time for tea to-day."
"No," said the fox, "I won't blunt my snout on pig's bristles and goat's beards."
So the lad went and told his mother.
"Well, then," she said, "go to Greylegs, the wolf."
So the lad said to Greylegs—
"Dear Greylegs! do, Greylegs, tear the fox, for the fox won't bite Hairlock, and Hairlock won't come home in good time for tea to-day."
"No," said Greylegs, "I won't wear out my paws and teeth on a dry fox's carcass."
So the lad went and told his mother.
"Well, then, go to the bear," said his mother, "and beg him to slay Greylegs."
So the lad said to the bear—
"My dear bear! do, bear, slay Greylegs, for Greylegs won't tear the fox, and the fox won't bite Hairlock, and Hairlock won't come home in good time for tea to-day."
"No, I won't," said the bear; "I won't blunt my claws in that work, that I won't."
So the lad told his mother.
"Well, then," she said, "go to the Finn and beg him to shoot the bear."
So the lad said to the Finn—
"Dear Finn! do, Finn, shoot the bear, for the bear won't slay Greylegs, Greylegs won't tear the fox, the fox won't bite Hairlock, and Hairlock won't come home in good time for tea to-day."
"No, that I won't," said the Finn; "I'm not going to shoot away my bullets for that."
