One day , however , when the father had gone to a little distance to collect some sticks for the fire , the boy fetched his bow , and shot at a bird that was just flying towards its nest . But he had not taken proper aim , and the bird was only wounded , and fluttered along the ground . The boy ran to catch it , but though he ran very fast , and the bird seemed to flutter along very slowly , he never could quite come up with it ; it was always just a little in advance . But so absorbed was he in the chase that he did not notice for some time that he was now deep in the forest , in a place where he had never been before . Then he felt it would be foolish to go any further , and he turned to find his way home . He thought it would be easy enough to follow the path along which he had come , but somehow it was always branching off in unexpected directions . He looked about for a house where he might stop and ask his way , but there was not a sign of one anywhere , and he was afraid to stand still , for it was cold , and there were many stories of wolves being seen in that part of the forest . Night fell , and he was beginning to start at every sound , when suddenly a magician came running towards him , with a pack of wolves snapping at his heels . Then all the boy 's courage returned to him . He took his bow , and aiming an arrow at the largest wolf , shot him through the heart , and a few more arrows soon put the rest to flight . The magician was full of gratitude to his deliverer , and promised him a reward for his help if the youth would go back with him to his house . ` Indeed there is nothing that would be more welcome to me than a night 's lodging , ' answered the boy ; ' I have been wandering all day in the forest , and did not know how to get home again . ` Come with me , you must be hungry as well as tired , ' said the magician , and led the way to his house , where the guest flung himself on a bed , and went fast asleep . But his host returned to the forest to get some food , for the larder was empty . While he was absent the housekeeper went to the boy 's room and tried to wake him . She stamped on the floor , and shook him and called to him , telling him that he was in great danger , and must take flight at once . But nothing would rouse him , and if he did ever open his eyes he shut them again directly . Soon after , the magician came back from the forest , and told the housekeeper to bring them something to eat . The meal was quickly ready , and the magician called to the boy to come down and eat it , but he could not be wakened , and they had to sit down to supper without him . By-and-by the magician went out into the wood again for some more hunting , and on his return he tried afresh to waken the youth .
But finding it quite impossible , he went back for the third time XXXXX the forest .
along as at for from into on through to towards