After a while , however , he got tired of walking in this unaccustomed way -- it made his back ache and his front paws felt sore . So he wished himself a boy again , and in the twinkling of an eye his tail disappeared and his head shrank , and the long thick mane became short and curly . Then he looked out for a sleeping place , and found some dry ferns , which he gathered and heaped up . But before he had time to close his eyes there was a great noise in the trees near by , as if a big heavy body was crashing through them . The boy rose and turned his head , and saw a huge black bear coming towards him . ` What are you doing here ? ' cried the bear . ' I am running away from the mermaid , ' answered the boy ; but the bear took no interest in the mermaid , and only said : ' I am hungry ; give me something to eat . ' The knapsack was lying on the ground among the fern , but the prince picked it up , and , unfastening the strap , took out his second flask of wine and another loaf of bread . ` We will have supper together , ' he remarked politely ; but the bear , who had never been taught manners , made no reply , and ate as fast as he could . When he had quite finished , he got up and stretched himself . ` You have got a comfortable-looking bed there , ' he observed . ' I really think that , bad sleeper as I am , I might have a good night on it . I can manage to squeeze you in , ' he added ; ` you do n't take up a great deal of room . ' The boy was rather indignant at the bear 's cool way of talking ; but as he was too tired to gather more fern , they lay down side by side , and never stirred till sunrise next morning . ' I must go now , ' said the bear , pulling the sleepy prince on to his feet ; ` but first you shall cut off the tip of my ear , and when you are in any danger just wish yourself a bear and you will become one . One good turn deserves another , you know . ' And the boy did as he was bid , and he and the bear bade each other farewell . ' I wonder how it feels to be a bear , ' thought he to himself when he had walked a little way ; and he took out the tip from the breast of his coat and wished hard that he might become a bear . The next moment his body stretched out and thick black fur covered him all over .
As before , his hands were changed into paws , but when he tried XXXXX switch his tail he found to his disgust that it would not go any distance .
After So among at before from in of to towards