No, the ogre had met nobody in the woods that day. “Dear, dear,” says the smallest little pig, “but that is a pity, for those three fellows were three wicked robbers, and they have just hidden a meal-bag full of money in that hole up in the tree yonder.” You can guess how the ogre pricked up his ears at this, and how he stared till his eyes were as big as saucers. “Just wait,” said he to the smallest little pig, “and I will be down again in a minute.” So he laid his jacket to one side and up the tree he climbed, for he wanted to find that bag of money, and he meant to have it. “Do you find the hole?” says the smallest of the little pigs. Yes; the ogre had found the hole. “And do you find the money?” says the smallest of the little pigs. No; the ogre could find no money. “Then good-bye,” says the smallest of the little pigs, and off he trotted home, leaving the ogre to climb down the tree again as he chose. “And now, at least, you will go out into the woods no more,” says the cock, the speckled hen, the black drake, and the grey goose. Oh, well, there was no telling what the three little pigs would do yet, they would have to wait and see. One day it was the middle-sized little pig who would go out into the woods, for he also had a mind to taste the acorns there. So out into the woods the middle-sized little pig went, and there he had all the acorns that he wanted. But by and by the ogre came along. “Aha!” says he. “Now I have you for sure and certain.” [Illustration: The Ogre climbs the tree for the money that he believes to be there.] But the middle-sized little pig just stood and looked at a great rock just in front of him, with all of his might and main. “Sh-h-h-h-h-h!” says he, “I am not to be talked to or bothered now!” Hoity-toity! Here was a pretty song, to be sure! And why was the middle-sized pig not to be talked to? That was what the ogre should like to know. Oh, the middle-sized little pig was looking at what was going on under the great rock yonder, for he could see the little folk brewing more beer than thirty-seven men could drink. So! Why, the ogre would like to see that for himself. “Very well,” says the middle-sized little pig, “there is nothing easier than to learn that trick! just take a handful of leaves from yonder bush and rub them over your eyes, and then shut them tight and count fifty.” Well, the ogre would have a try at that. So he gathered a handful of the leaves and rubbed them over his eyes, just as the middle-sized pig had said. “And now are you ready?” said the middle-sized little pig. Yes; the ogre was ready. “Then shut your eyes and count,” said the middle-sized little pig. So the ogre shut them as tightly as he could and began to count, “One, two, three, four, five,” and so on; and while he was counting, why, the little pig was running away home again.