An egg, duck, rooster, needle, crab, horse, and ox find an empty house in the woods to spend the night. When the 12 wolves who own the house return, the bravest wolf decides to investigate the strange smells inside. However, each time he tries to search an area, one of the animals hiding there surprises and frightens him - the egg in the ashes, crab in the tub, needle in the towel, and finally the horse and ox. Terrified, the wolf flees and warns the other wolves not to enter, claiming the house is filled with dangerous devils.

1. The Wolf-lair
Once upon a time, over hill and dale, there was an Egg. This
Egg went out to see the world. He was rolling and rolling; and
then he met a Duck.
The Duck asked, "Where are you
going, my friend Egg?"
"I'm going to see the world."
"I'll go, too. Let’s go together!"
As they were wandering farther,
they met a Rooster.
"Where are you going, my friend Duck?"
"We are going to see world."
"I'll go, too. Let’s go together!"
They were wandering, and wandering; then they met a Needle.
"Where are you going, my friend Rooster?"
"We are going to see the world."
"I'll go, too. Let’s go together!"
As they were wandering, they found a Crab.
"Where are you going, my
friend Needle?"
"We are going to see the
world."
"I'll go, too. Let’s go together!"
As they were wandering, they
met a Horse and finally an Ox.
They were wandering farther and farther, until
nightfall. Then they found a small house and went in.
Everyone found their own place. The Egg rolled into
the hot ash. The Duck and the Rooster flew up on top
of the fireplace. The crab climbed into a tub of water.
The Needle ran himself into the towel. The Horse lay
in the middle of the house and the Ox went to the
porch.

2. Suddenly, the twelve wolves who owned the house
arrived home. The oldest one felt something and
began howling when they were still quite far away
from the house.
"Yuck, yuck! What a strange smell I can smell! Who
dares to go in?"
There was a cocky one, who said that he dared to
go in, not being afraid even if a thousand devils were inside. He did so. As it
was their own house, he knew where their things were. At first, he searched
for a match on top of the fireplace to light a wick, but the Rooster and the
Duck began to fuss. Then he reached into the ash to pick some live coal, but
the Egg blew up, so he ran to the tub to
wash, but he was pinched by the Crab
there. He ran to the towel, where he was
pricked by the Needle. In his fright, he
jumped to the middle of the house,
where the Horse kicked him in the side,
and as he was running out, the Ox picked
him up onto his horns and threw him to
the middle of the yard.
There he began to squeal like a pig, and ran to his mates.
"Oh! Let’s run, let's get away! Run for your life! All the devils are inside!
I reached into the ash and
they shot me with a gun,
I ran to the tub and
they cut me with scissors.
I grabbed the towel and
a witch pricked me with her needle,
I started for the door and
They shovelled me out,
I ran out to the porch and
they got me with a pitchfork.
One shouted, 'Hep-hep-hep!'
Another yelled, 'Give it up.'
Then I fell over hard -
woe is me!"
So they fled, and they may be still running,
unless they have stopped.