Once on a time there were three goats named Gruff that were going to the mountain pasture to fatten. On the road there was a bridge across a waterfall over which they had to pass, and under which lived a great ugly ogre with eyes as large as tin plates, and a nose as long as a broomstick.

The youngest goat came first on the bridge.

"Trip trap, trip trap," said the bridge as he went over.

"Who trips on my bridge?" cried the ogre.

"Oh! it is only the little goat Gruff. I am going to the mountain pasture to get fat," said the goat in a soft voice.

"I am coming to catch you," said the ogre.

"Oh! no, pray don't take me, for I am so little; but if you will wait, the second goat Gruff is coming in a minute, and he is much bigger."

"Be it so," said the ogre.

Soon the second goat came passing over the bridge.

"Trip Trap, Trip Trap, Trip Trap," said the bridge.

"Who trips over my bridge?" cried the ogre.

"Oh! it is the second goat Gruff, who is going to the mountain-pasture to get fat," said the goat in a deeper voice.

"I am coming to catch you," said the ogre.

"Oh! no, pray don't take me. Wait a moment; the big goat Gruff is only just behind me: he is much, much bigger than I am."

"Be it so," answered the ogre.

Just at that moment came the big goat Gruff upon the bridge.

"TRIP TRAP, TRIP TRAP, TRIP TRAP," said the bridge; he was so heavy that the bridge creaked and cracked under him.

"Who goes tramping on my bridge?" roared the ogre.

"It is I, the great goat Gruff!" said the goat, who had a very deep voice.

"I am coming to catch you," cried the Ogre, and jumped upon the bridge.

"You're welcome," said the big goat, and without more ado he rushed upon the ogre, broke his bones, and with his horns thrust him over into the waterfall. He then trotted on to the pasture as though nothing had happened.

There the three billy goats grew so fat, so fat, that they were hardly able to walk home from the pasture, and snip, snap, snout, now my story's out.