A wolf once met a donkey on the road outside the village.
"I'm going to eat you up," said the wolf.
"Certainly," replied the donkey, thinking fast. "But please don't eat me out here on the road where everyone can see. I shall be so ashamed. Take me into the forest. Don't be afraid that I shall try to escape. Here, tie this rope around your neck and fasten it to my bridle. Then I will lead you to a quiet spot I know."
The wolf thought this was a good idea, so he fastened the rope around his neck and knotted it firmly to the donkey's bridle.
"Now I will go wherever you say," said the donkey.
"Show me the way to your quiet spot," ordered the wolf.
"Very well," said the donkey, setting off down the road towards the village. As they came to the first houses, the wolf began to suspect that he had been tricked.
"This is not the way to the forest," he said, tugging at his end of the rope. "This road goes to the village."
"Don't worry," said the donkey cheerfully. "This is a shortcut."
The donkey began to trot faster, then to gallop. The rope around the wolf's neck drew tight; in a very short time, he was dragged right up to the donkey's door.
The master, his wife, and their three sons all came running out to rescue the donkey. They were so angry that they would have killed the wolf then and there. Fortunately for the wolf, however, one of the sons threw a knife at him. The knife missed but cut the rope around his neck. The next moment, all the family could see was a cloud of dust in the road as the wolf fled to safety in the dark forest.