I will sleep here , ' he said to himself , ` but first I will make a fire , ' And he gathered together some twigs that were lying about , and then took two dry sticks and rubbed them together till the fire came , and he sat by it . The twigs cracked and the flame blazed up , and a slim yellow dog pushed through the bushes and laid his head on the king 's knee , and the king stroked his head . ` Wuf , wuf , ' said the dog . ` Sore was the plight of thy wife and thy horses when the giant drove them last night through the forest . ' ` That is why I have come , ' answered the king ; and suddenly his heart seemed to fail him and he felt that he could not go on . ' I can not fight that giant , ' he cried , looking at the dog with a white face . ' I am afraid , let me turn homewards . ' ` No , do n't do that , ' replied the dog . ` Eat and sleep , and I will watch over you . ' So the king ate and lay down , and slept till the sun waked him . ` It is time for you to start on your way , ' said the dog , ` and if danger presses , call on me , and I will help you . ' ` Farewell , then , ' answered the king ; ' I will not forget that promise , ' and on he went , and on , and on , till he reached a tall cliff with many sticks lying about . ` It is almost night , ' he thought ; ' I will make a fire and rest , ' and thus he did , and when the flames blazed up , the hoary hawk of the grey rock flew on to a bough above him . ` Sore was the plight of thy wife and thy horses when they passed here with the giant , ' said the hawk . ` Never shall I find them , ' answered the king , ` and nothing shall I get for all my trouble . ' ` Oh , take heart , ' replied the hawk ; ` things are never so bad but what they might be worse . Eat and sleep and I will watch thee , ' and the king did as he was bidden by the hawk , and by the morning he felt brave again . ` Farewell , ' said the bird , ` and if danger presses call to me , and I will help you . ' On he walked , and on and on , till as dusk was falling he came to a great river , and on the bank there were sticks lying about . ' I will make myself a fire , ' he thought , and thus he did , and by and bye a smooth brown head peered at him from the water , and a long body followed it .
` Sore was the plight of thy wife and thy horses when they passed the river last XXXXX , ' said the otter . '
Wuf bough fire first giant morning night promise rest sticks