Thibault seized a hatchet which was within reach, and in order to give a fit reception to his strange visitor, and to terrify him, he flourished the weapon above his head. A curious mocking expression passed over the face of the wolf, and then it began to laugh. It was the first time that Thibault had ever heard a wolf laugh. He had often heard tell that wolves barked like dogs, but never that they laughed like human beings. And what a laugh it was! If a man had laughed such a laugh, Thibault would verily and indeed have been scared out of his wits. He brought his lifted arm down again. “By my lord of the cloven foot,” said the wolf, in a full and sonorous voice, “you are a fine fellow! At your request, I send you the finest buck from His Royal Highness’s forests, and in return, you want to split my head open with your hatchet; human gratitude is worthy to rank with that of wolves.” On hearing a voice exactly like his own coming forth from a beast’s mouth, Thibault’s knees began to shake under him, and the hatchet fell out of his hand. “Now then,” continued the wolf, “let us be sensible and talk together like two good friends. Yesterday you wanted the Baron’s buck, and I led it myself into your shed, and for fear it should escape, I tied it up myself to the rack. And for all this you take your hatchet to me!” “How should I know who you were?” asked Thibault. “I see, you did not recognise me! A nice sort of excuse to give.” “Well, I ask you, was it likely I should take you for a friend under that ugly coat?” “Ugly coat, indeed!” said the wolf, licking his fur with a long tongue as red as blood. “Confound you! You are hard to please. However, it’s not a matter of my coat; what I want to know is, are you willing to make me some return for the service I have done you?” “Certainly,” said the shoe-maker, feeling rather uncomfortable! “but I ought to know what your demands are. What is it? What do you want? Speak!” “First of all, and above all things, I should like a glass of water, for those confounded dogs have run me until I am out of breath.” “You shall have it in a moment, my lord wolf.” And Thibault ran and fetched a bowl of fresh, clear water from a brook which ran some ten paces from the hut. The eager readiness with which he complied with the wolf’s request betrayed his feeling of relief at getting out of the bargain so cheaply. As he placed the bowl in front of the wolf, he made the animal a low bow. The wolf lapped up the contents with evident delight, and then stretched himself on the floor with his paws straight out in front of him, looking like a sphinx. “Now,” he said, “listen to me.” “There is something else you wish me to do,” asked Thibault, inwardly quaking. “Yes, a very urgent something,” replied the wolf. “Do you hear the baying of the dogs?” “Indeed I do, they are coming nearer and nearer, and in five minutes they will be here.” “And what I want you to do is to get me out of their way.”