He pounced upon a cheese and lifted it between his two hands; it smelled good, but felt very hard.

That was no matter: what else were teeth made strong and sharp for?
He tried them on one of the round edges, and, nibbling actively, soon got through to the softer body of the cheese.

But he had not got much farther when he heard the men returning, and desisted, afraid of being discovered by the noise he made.

The readiest way to conceal himself was to lie down flat on the loft, and he did so just where he could see the threshing-floor over the edge of it by lifting his head.

This, however, he scarcely ventured to do; and all he could see as he lay was the tip of the swing-bar of one of the flails, ever as it reached the highest point of its ascent.