The Shepherd and the Wolf

The wolf cub was no bigger than a boot when the Shepherd found it. It lay whimpering by a rock with its eyes half shut. He tucked it inside his coat, carried it home and fed it milk from a rag.

The cub grew. Its legs grew long and its teeth grew sharp. The Shepherd rubbed his chin and looked across the valley at his neighbors' fat lambs. "Now then," he said. "Watch me, and do as I do."

He showed the young Wolf how to creep low through the long grass. He showed him how to wait for the dark. He showed him how to snatch a lamb from the next farm and be gone before the dogs could bark. Night after night they went out together. Night after night there was lamb for supper.

The Wolf was quick. Soon he needed no showing at all.

One evening he sat by the fire, licking his paws. He looked out of the door at the Shepherd's own flock, white in the moonlight. He smiled, and all his teeth showed.

"Master," said the Wolf, "you have shown me how to steal. So keep a sharp lookout, or you will lose some of your own."