Once upon a time, the fox was talking to the wolf about the strength of man, explaining how no animal could withstand him and how all were obliged to use cunning to protect themselves.
The wolf answered, "If I could see a man just once, I would attack him nonetheless."
"I can help you do that," said the fox. "Come to me early tomorrow morning, and I will show you one."
The wolf arrived on time, and the fox led him to a path used daily by a huntsman. First, an old discharged soldier passed by.
"Is that a man?" asked the wolf.
"No," answered the fox. "He has been one."
Afterwards, a little boy on his way to school came by.
"Is that a man?"
"No, he will yet become one."
Finally, a huntsman came by with a double-barreled gun on his back and a sword at his side.
The fox said to the wolf, "Look, there comes a man. He is the one you must attack, but I am going back to my den."
The wolf then charged at the man.
When the huntsman saw him, he said, "Too bad I have not loaded a bullet." Then he aimed and fired a load of shot into the wolf's face.
The wolf made an awful face but was not frightened. He attacked again, and the huntsman gave him the second barrel. Swallowing his pain, the wolf charged once more. The huntsman drew his naked sword and struck him several blows left and right. Bleeding all over, the wolf ran howling back to the fox.
"Well, Brother Wolf," said the fox, "how did you get along with man?"
"Oh," replied the wolf, "I never imagined the strength of man to be what it is. First, he took a stick from his shoulder and blew into it, and something flew into my face which tickled me terribly. Then he breathed once more into the stick, and it flew up my nose like lightning and hail. Then when I got next to him, he drew a naked rib from his body and beat me so with it that he almost killed me."
"See what a braggart you are," said the fox. "You throw your hatchet so far that you cannot get it back again."