` He only asked to have his bonds taken from him , ' he said . ` He would give his word not to attempt to escape , and if he was once set free he could soon pound her rice for her . ' ` Then you can have a little rest , ' he went on , ` for rice pounding is very tiring work , and not at all fit for weak women . ' These last words melted the good woman completely , and she unfastened the bonds that held him . Poor foolish creature ! In one moment the Tanuki had seized her , stripped off all her clothes , and popped her in the mortar . In a few minutes more she was pounded as fine as the rice ; and not content with that , the Tanuki placed a pot on the hearth and made ready to cook the peasant a dinner from the flesh of his own wife ! When everything was complete he looked out of the door , and saw the old man coming from the forest carrying a large bundle of wood . Quick as lightning the Tanuki not only put on the woman 's clothes , but , as he was a magician , assumed her form as well . Then he took the wood , kindled the fire , and very soon set a large dinner before the old man , who was very hungry , and had forgotten for the moment all about his enemy . But when the Tanuki saw that he had eaten his fill and would be thinking about his prisoner , he hastily shook off the clothes behind a door and took his own shape . Then he said to the peasant , ` You are a nice sort of person to seize animals and to talk of killing them ! You are caught in your own net . It is your own wife that you have eaten , and if you want to find her bones you have only to look under the floor . ' With these words he turned and made for the forest . The old peasant grew cold with horror as he listened , and seemed frozen to the place where he stood . When he had recovered himself a little , he collected the bones of his dead wife , buried them in the garden , and swore over the grave to be avenged on the Tanuki . After everything was done he sat himself down in his lonely cottage and wept bitterly , and the bitterest thought of all was that he would never be able to forget that he had eaten his own wife . While he was thus weeping and wailing his friend the hare passed by , and , hearing the noise , pricked up his ears and soon recognised the old man 's voice . He wondered what had happened , and put his head in at the door and asked if anything was the matter .
XXXXX tears and groans the peasant told him the whole dreadful story , and the hare , filled with anger and compassion , comforted him as best he could , and promised to help him in his revenge .
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