By the well hang two buckets on a pole that were used , in former days , to draw up water . For many nights I have crept down to the palace , and have lowered myself in the bucket , bringing home with me enough cheese to feed the children . All I beg of you is to come with me , and , instead of hunting chickens and such things , I will make a good meal off cheese before I die . ' ` But the cheeses may be all finished by now ? ' ` If you were only to see the quantities of them ! ' laughed the fox . ` And even if they were finished , there would always be ME to eat . ' ` Well , I will come . Lead the way , but I warn you that if you try to escape or play any tricks you are reckoning without your host -- that is to say , without my legs , which are as long as yours ! ' All was silent in the village , and not a light was to be seen but that of the moon , which shone bright and clear in the sky . The wolf and the fox crept softly along , when suddenly they stopped and looked at each other ; a savoury smell of frying bacon reached their noses , and reached the noses of the sleeping dogs , who began to bark greedily . ` Is it safe to go on , think you ? ' asked the wolf in a whisper . And the fox shook her head . ` Not while the dogs are barking , ' said she ; ` someone might come out to see if anything was the matter . ' And she signed to the wolf to curl himself up in the shadow beside her . In about half an hour the dogs grew tired of barking , or perhaps the bacon was eaten up and there was no smell to excite them . Then the wolf and the fox jumped up , and hastened to the foot of the wall . ' I am lighter than he is , ' thought the fox to herself , ` and perhaps if I make haste I can get a start , and jump over the wall on the other side before he manages to spring over this one . ' And she quickened her pace .
But if the wolf could not run he could jump , and XXXXX one bound he was beside his companion .
For In at by if of on than while with