Once upon a time there were three billy goats. They were brothers, and all of them were called Gruff. The three goats lived in a small green valley. For a long time there was plenty of grass, and the goats were happy. But one summer the grass in the valley grew thin and dry. The billy goats were hungry. They were thin, and they wanted to grow big and fat. "We need better grass," they said. On the other side of a wide river there was a tall green hillside. The grass on that hillside was thick and sweet. The three goats looked at it every day. "If we eat that grass," they said, "we will soon be fat." But to reach the hillside they had to cross an old wooden bridge. Under the bridge there lived a troll. He was very big and very ugly. He had eyes as big as plates and a nose as long as a stick. The troll was always hungry, and he ate everyone who tried to cross his bridge. So the three goats were afraid. For many days they stayed near the river and did not cross. At last the youngest brother had a plan. He was the smallest billy goat Gruff, but he was clever. "I will go first," he said. "Do not worry. I am small, so the troll will wait for someone bigger." Trip, trap, trip, trap! went his little feet on the bridge. "Who is that walking over my bridge?" roared the troll. "It is only me, the smallest billy goat Gruff," said the little goat in a tiny voice. "I am going up to the hillside to eat the sweet grass." "Oh no!" said the troll. "You are not going up there! I am hungry, and I am going to eat you up!" "Oh please, do not eat me," said the little goat. "I am much too small for a big troll like you. Wait a little. My brother is coming, and he is far bigger than me." The troll thought about a bigger and better dinner. "Very well," he growled. "Go away." So the smallest goat ran quickly over the bridge and up to the green grass.