I am afraid that you were not taught to speak the truth , ' retorted the rock . ` You need not speak like that , for I have SEEN you walking , ' replied the wolverine , ` though I am quite sure that you could never catch ME ! ' and he ran a little distance and then stopped to see if the rock was pursuing him ; but , to his vexation , the rock was still in the same place . Then the wolverine went up close , and struck the rock a blow with his paw , saying : ` Well , will you catch me NOW ? ' ' I ca n't walk , but I can ROLL , ' answered the rock . And the wolverine laughed and said : ` Oh , that will do just as well ' ; and began to run down the side of the mountain . At first he went quite slowly , ` just to give the rock a chance , ' he thought to himself ; but soon he quickened his pace , for he found that the rock was almost at his heels . But the faster the wolverine ran , the faster the rock rolled , and by-and-by the little creature began to get very tired , and was sorry he had not left the rock to itself . Thinking that if he could manage to put on a spurt he would reach the forest of great trees at the bottom of the mountain , where the rock could not come , he gathered up all his strength , and instead of running he leaped over sticks and stones , but , whatever he did , the rock was always close behind him . At length he grew so weary that he could not even see where he was going , and catching his foot in a branch he tripped and fell . The rock stopped at once , but there came a shriek from the wolverine : ` Get off , get off ! ca n't you see that you are on my legs ? ' ` Why did you not leave me alone ? ' asked the rock . ' I did not want to move -- I hate moving . But you WOULD have it , and I certainly sha 'n' t move now till I am forced to . ' ' I will call my brothers , ' answered the wolverine . ` There are many of them in the forest , and you will soon see that they are stronger than you . ' And he called , and called , and called , till wolves and foxes and all sorts of other creatures all came running to see what was the matter . ` How DID you get under that rock ? '
asked they , making a ring round him ; but they had to repeat their question several times before the XXXXX would answer , for he , like many other persons , found it hard to confess that he had brought his troubles on himself .
DID creatures first foxes heels left paw strength vexation wolverine