Fox Strap

It was widely believed that certain sorcerers and witches possessed a strap of wolf or fox hide that could transform them into the beast of their choice. In the village of Dodow near Wittenburg, Germany, there lived a witch who owned such a strap, and through its magic she could transform herself into a fox whenever she wished and keep her larder well stocked with geese, ducks, and chickens. One day, her grandson, who knew that his grandmother was a witch and was fully aware of why it was that their table never lacked for tasty poultry---even thought they owned none of their own---sneaked the fox strap from its hiding place and brought it with him to school.

As it so happened, the schoolmaster that day happened to be discussing magic and witchcraft, and the eager child volunteered that his grandmother was a witch and that he had her fox strap with him. Amused by such childlike belief, the schoolmaster politely asked to examine the strip of animal hide. Unfortunately, as he strode back and forth in front of the class, gesturing broadly to make his points, the strap brushed against his forehead, adhered to his flesh, and instantly transformed him into a fox.

The children began to scream loudly in terror at what their young eyes had beheld, and the schoolmaster, a mild-mannered gentleman who was unaware of his transformation, became frightened at whatever it was that had so terrified his students. As they all ran screaming from the classroom, the schoolmaster's new animal nature assumed command and he found himself jumping out the open window in a single leap.

Confused and bewildered to find himself running across the countryside on all fours, the schoolmaster had no choice but to make the best of a most peculiar situation. Trusting in his newfound instincts, he found a suitable hill and made himself a den.

Several days later, a group of local sportsmen organized a hunt, and the confused schoolmaster found himself among the other animals running to escape the hunters. A bullet struck him in the heart. Another bullet had severed the fox strap and returned the schoolmaster to his human form. The stunned sportsmen found themselves staring at the meek schoolmaster lying bleeding on the ground.

Sources: Bartsch, Karl. Sagen, Marchen und Gebrauche aus Meklenburg. Translated by D. L. Ashliman. Wien: Wilhelm Braumuller, 1879.