come with me. I will find something for you
to do.' And taking him by the ear he led him from the cottage.

For seven years the ass led a hard life, just as the old woman had
foretold. But instead of remembering that he had brought all his
suffering on himself, and being sorry for his evil ways, he grew
harder, and more bitter. At the end of the seven years his ass skin
wore out, and he became a man again, and one day returned to the
cottage.

His wife opened the door in answer to his knock; then, letting fall
the latch, she ran inside, crying:

'Grandmother! grandmother! your son has come back!'

'I thought he would,' replied the old woman, going on with her
spinning. 'Well, we could have done very well without him. But as he
is here I suppose he must come in.'

And come in he did. But as the old woman expected, he behaved still
worse than before. For some weeks she allowed him to do what he liked;
then at last she said:

'So experience has taught you nothing! After all, there are very few
people who have sense to learn by it. But take care lest I change you
into a wolf, to be a prey for dogs and men!'

'You talk too much. I shall break your head for you!' was all the
answer she got.

Had the young man looked at her face he might have taken warning, but
he was busy making a pipe, and took no notice. The next moment the
steel cane had touched his shoulders, and a big grey wolf bounded
through the door.

Oh! what a yapping among the dogs, and what a shouting among the
neighbours as they gave chase.

For seven years he led the life of a hunted animal, often cold and
nearly always hungry, and never daring to allow himself a sound sleep.
At the end of that time his wolf skin wore out also, and again he
appeared at the cottage door. But the second seven years had taught
him no more than the first--his conduct was worse than before; and one
day he beat his wife and son so brutally that they screamed to the old
woman to come to their aid.

She did, and brought the steel cane with her. In a second the ruffian
had vanished, and a big black crow was flying about the room, crying
'Gour! Gour!'

The window was open, and he darted through it; and seeking the
companions who had ruined him, he managed to make them understand what
had happened.

'We will avenge you,' said they; and taking up a rope, set out to
strangle the old woman.

But she was ready for them. One stroke of her cane and they were all
changed int