Withhisfalcononhiswrist,andhisgreyhoundandcatbehindhim,theyoungmanwalkedalongway,inquiringofeveryonehemetwhethertheyhadseenhisenemytheogre。Butnobodyhad。Thenhebadehisfalconflyupintothesky——up,up,andup——andtryifhissharpeyescoulddiscovertheoldthief。Thebirdhadtogosohighthathedidnotreturnforsomehours;buthetoldhismasterthattheogrewaslyingasleepinasplendidpalaceinafarcountryontheshoresofthesea。
Thiswasdelightfulnewstotheyoungman,whoinstantlyboughtsomemeatforthefalcon,biddinghimmakeagoodmeal。
\'To—morrow,\'saidhe,\'youwillflytothepalacewheretheogrelies,andwhileheisasleepyouwillsearchallabouthimforastoneonwhichisengravedstrangesigns;thisyouwillbringtome。InthreedaysIshallexpectyoubackhere。\'
\'Well,Imusttakethecatwithme,\'answeredthebird。
Thesunhadnotyetrisenbeforethefalconsoaredhighintotheair,thecatseatedonhisback,withhispawstightlyclaspingthebird\'sneck。
\'Youhadbettershutyoureyesoryoumaygetgiddy,\'saidthebird;
andthecat,youhadneverbeforebeenoffthegroundexcepttoclimbatree,didasshewasbid。
Allthatdayandallthatnighttheyflew,andinthemorningtheysawtheogre\'spalacelyingbeneaththem。
\'Dearme,\'saidthecat,openinghereyesforthefirsttime,\'thatlookstomeverylikearatcitydownthere,letusgodowntoit;theymaybeabletohelpus。\'Sotheyalightedinsomebushesintheheartoftheratcity。Thefalconremainedwherehewas,butthecatlaydownoutsidetheprincipalgate,causingterribleexcitementamongtherats。
Atlength,seeingshedidnotmove,onebolderthantherestputitsheadoutofanupperwindowofthecastle,andsaid,inatremblingvoice:
\'Whyhaveyoucomehere？Whatdoyouwant？Ifitisanythinginourpower,tellus,andwewilldoit。\'
\'Ifyouwouldhaveletmespeaktoyoubefore,IwouldhavetoldyouthatIcomeasafriend,\'repliedthecat;\'andIshallbegreatlyobligedifyouwouldsendfourofthestrongestandcunningestamongyou,todomeaservice。\'
\'Oh,weshallbedelighted,\'answeredtherat,muchrelieved。\'ButifyouwillinformmewhatitisyouwishthemtodoIshallbebetterabletojudgewhoismostfittedforthepost。\'
\'Ithankyou,\'saidthecat。\'Well,whattheyhavetodoisthis:
To—nighttheymustburrowunderthewallsofthecastleandgouptotheroomwereanogreliesasleep。Somewhereabouthimhehashiddenastone,onwhichareengravedstrangesigns。Whentheyhavefoundittheymusttakeitfromhimwithouthiswaking,andbringittome。\'
\'Yourordersshallbeobeyed,\'repliedtherat。Andhewentouttogivehisinstructions。
Aboutmidnightthecat,whowasstillsleepingbeforethegate,wasawakenedbysomewaterflungatherbytheheadrat,whocouldnotmakeuphismindtoopenthedoors。
\'Hereisthestoneyouwanted,\'saidhe,whenthecatstartedupwithaloudmew;\'ifyouwillholdupyourpawsIwilldropitdown。\'Andsohedid。\'Andnowfarewell,\'continuedtherat;\'youhavealongwaytogo,andwilldowelltostartbeforedaybreak。\'
\'Yourcounselisgood,\'repliedthecat,smilingtoitself;andputtingthestoneinhermouthshewentofftoseekthefalcon。
Nowallthistimeneitherthecatnorthefalconhadhadanyfood,andthefalconsoongottiredcarryingsuchaheavyburden。Whennightarrivedhedeclaredhecouldgonofurther,butwouldspenditonthebanksofariver。
\'Anditismyturntotakecareofthestone,\'saidhe,\'oritwillseemasifyouhaddoneeverythingandInothing。\'
\'No,Igotit,andIwillkeepit,\'answeredthecat,whowastiredandcross;andtheybeganafinequarrel。But,unluckily,inthemidstofit,thecatraisedhervoice,andthestonefellintotheearofabigfishwhichhappenedtobeswimmingby,andthoughboththecatandthefalconsprangintothewaterafterit,theyweretoolate。
Halfdrowned,andmorethanhalfchoked,thetwofaithfulservantsscrambledbacktolandagain。Thefalconflewtoatreeandspreadhiswingsinthesuntodry,butthecat,aftergivingherselfagoodshake,begantoscratchupthesandybanksandtothrowthebitsintothestream。
\'Whatareyoudoingthatfor？\'askedalittlefish。\'Doyouknowthatyouaremakingthewaterquitemuddy？\'
\'Thatdoesn\'tmatteratalltome,\'answeredthecat。\'Iamgoingtofillupalltheriver,sothatthefishesmaydie。\'
\'Thatisveryunkind,aswehaveneverdoneyouanyharm,\'repliedthefish。\'Whyareyousoangrywithus？\'
\'Becauseoneofyouhasgotastoneofmine——astonewithstrangesignsuponit——whichdroppedintothewater。Ifyouwillpromisetogetitbackforme,why,perhapsIwillleaveyourriveralone。\'
\'Iwillcertainlytry,\'answeredthefishinagreathurry;\'butyoumusthavealittlepatience,asitmaynotbeaneasytask。\'Andinaninstanthisscalesmightbeseenflashingquicklyalong。
Thefishswamasfastashecouldtothesea,whichwasnotfardistant,andcallingtogetherallhisrelationswholivedintheneighbourhood,hetoldthemoftheterribledangerwhichthreatenedthedwellersintheriver。
\'Noneofushasgotit,\'saidthefishes,shakingtheirheads;\'butinthebayyonderthereisatunnywho,althoughheissoold,alwaysgoeseverywhere。Hewillbeabletotellyouaboutit,ifanyonecan。\'Sothelittlefishswamofftothetunny,andagainrelatedhisstory。
\'WhyIwasupthatriveronlyafewhoursago！\'criedthetunny;\'andasIwascomingbacksomethingfellintomyear,andthereitisstill,forIwenttosleep,whenIgothomeandforgotallaboutit。Perhapsitmaybewhatyouwant。\'Andstretchinguphistailhewhiskedoutthestone。
\'Yes,Ithinkthatmustbeit,\'saidthefishwithjoy。Andtakingthestoneinhismouthhecarriedittotheplacewherethecatwaswaitingforhim。
\'Iammuchobligedtoyou,\'saidthecat,asthefishlaidthestoneonthesand,\'andtorewardyou,Iwillletyourriveralone。\'Andshemountedthefalcon\'sback,andtheyflewtotheirmaster。
Ah,howgladhewastoseethemagainwiththemagicstoneintheirpossession。Inamomenthehadwishedforapalace,butthistimeitwasofgreenmarble;andthenhewishedfortheprincessandherladiestooccupyit。Andtheretheylivedformanyyears,andwhentheoldkingdiedtheprincess\'shusbandreignedinhisstead。
[AdaptedfromContesBerberes。]
TheStoryofManusFarawayovertheseaoftheWesttherereignedakingwhohadtwosons;andthenameoftheonewasOireal,andthenameoftheotherwasIarlaid。Whentheboyswerestillchildren,theirfatherandmotherdied,andagreatcouncilwasheld,andamanwaschosenfromamongthemwhowouldrulethekingdomtilltheboyswereoldenoughtoruleitthemselves。
Theyearspassedon,andby—and—byanothercouncilwasheld,anditwasagreedthattheking\'ssonswerenowofanagetotakethepowerwhichrightlybelongedtothem。Sotheyouthswerebiddentoappearbeforethecouncil,andOirealtheelderwassmallerandweakerthanhisbrother。
\'Ilikenottoleavethedeeronthehillandthefishintherivers,andsitinjudgmentonmypeople,\'saidOireal,whenhehadlistenedtothewordsofthechiefofthecouncil。Andthechiefwaxedangry,andansweredquickly:
\'Notoneclodofearthshalleverbeyoursifthisdayyoudonottakeonyourselfthevowsthatweretakenbythekingyourfather。\'
ThenspakeIarlaid,theyounger,andhesaid:\'Letonehalfbeyours,andtheothergivetome;thenyouwillhavefewerpeopletoruleover。\'
\'Yes,Iwilldothat,\'answeredOireal。
Afterthis,onehalfofthemenofthelandofLochlanndidhomagetoOireal,andtheotherhalftoIarlaid。Andtheygovernedtheirkingdomsastheywould,andinafewyearstheybecamegrownmenwithbeardsontheirchins;andIarlaidmarriedthedaughterofthekingofGreece,andOirealthedaughterofthekingofOrkney。ThenextyearsonswereborntoOirealandIarlaid;andthesonofOirealwasbigandstrong,butthesonofIarlaidwaslittleandweak,andeachhadsixfosterbrotherswhowenteverywherewiththeprinces。
OnedayManus,sonofOireal,andhiscousin,thesonofIarlaid,calledtotheirfosterbrothers,andbadethemcomeandplayagameatshinnyinthegreatfieldneartheschoolwheretheyweretaughtallthatprincesandnoblesshouldknow。Longtheyplayed,andswiftlydidtheballpassfromonetoanother,whenManusdrovetheballathiscousin,thesonofIarlaid。Theboy,whowasnotusedtoberoughlyhandled,eveninjest,criedoutthathewassorelyhurt,andwenthomewithhisfosterbrothersandtoldhistaletohismother。ThewifeofIarlaidgrewwhiteandangryasshelistened,andthrustinghersonaside,soughtthecouncilhallwhereIarlaidwassitting。
\'Manushasdrivenaballatmyson,andfainwouldhaveslainhim,\'
saidshe。\'Letanendbeputtohimandhisilldeeds。\'
ButIarlaidanswered:
\'Nay,Iwillnotslaythesonofmybrother。\'
\'Andheshallnotslaymyson,\'saidthequeen。Andcallingtoherchamberlainsheorderedhimtoleadtheprincetothefourbrownboundariesoftheworld,andtoleavehimtherewithawiseman,whowouldcareforhim,andletnoharmbefallhim。Andthewisemansettheboyonthetopofahillwherethesunalwaysshone,andhecouldseeeveryman,butnomancouldseehim。
ThenshesummonedManustothecastle,andforawholeyearshekepthimfast,andhisownmothercouldnotgetspeechofhim。Butintheend,whenthewifeofOirealfellsick,Manusfledfromthetowerwhichwashisprison,andstolebacktohisonhome。
Forafewyearshestayedthereinpeace,andthenthewifeofIarlaidhisunclesentforhim。
\'Itistimethatyouweremarried,\'shesaid,whenshesawthatManushadgrowntallandstronglikeuntoIarlaid。\'Tallandstrongyouare,andcomelyofface。Iknowabridethatwillsuityouwell,andthatisthedaughterofthemightyearlofFinghaidh,thatdoeshomageforhislandstome。Imyselfwillgowithagreatfollowingtohishouse,andyoushallgowithme。\'
Thusitwasdone;andthoughtheearl\'swifewaseagertokeepherdaughterwithheryetawhile,shewasfaintoyield,asthewifeofIarlaidvowedthatnotaroodoflandshouldtheearlhave,unlesshedidherbidding。ButifhewouldgivehisdaughtertoManus,shewouldbestowonhimthethirdpartofherownkingdom,withmuchtreasurebeside。Thisshedid,notfromlovetoManus,butbecauseshewishedtodestroyhim。Sotheyweremarried,androdebackwiththewifeofIarlaidtoherownpalace。Andthatnight,whilehewassleeping,therecameawiseman,whowashisfather\'sfriend,andawokehimsaying:\'Dangerliesveryclosetoyou,Manus,sonofOireal。Youholdyourselffavouredbecauseyouhaveasabridethedaughterofamightyearl;butdoyouknowwhatbridethewifeofIarlaidsoughtforherownson？Itwasnoworldlywifeshefoundforhim,buttheswiftMarchwind,andnevercanyouprevailagainsther。\'
\'Isitthus？\'answeredManu。Andatthefirststreakofdawnhewenttothechamberwherethequeenlayinthemidstofhermaidens。
\'Ihavecome,\'hesaid,\'forthethirdpartofthekingdom,andforthetreasurewhichyoupromisedme。\'ButthewifeofIarlaidlaughedassheheardhim。
\'Notaclodshallyouhavehere,\'spakeshe。\'YoumustgototheOldBergenforthat。Mayhapunderitsstonesandroughmountainsyoumayfindatreasure！\'
\'Thengivemeyourson\'ssixfosterbrothersaswellasmyown,\'
answeredhe。Andthequeengavethemtohim,andtheysetoutforOldBergen。
Ayearpassedby,andfoundthemstillinthatwildland,huntingthereindeer,anddiggingpitsforthemountainsheeptofallinto。ForatimeManusandhiscompanionslivedmerrily,butatlengthManusgrewwearyofthestrangecountry,andtheyalltookshipforthelandofLochlann。Thewindwasfierceandcold,andlongwasthevoyage;but,onespringday,theysailedintotheharbourthatlaybeneaththecastleofIarlaid。Thequeenlookedfromherwindowandbeheldhimmountingthehill,withthetwelvefosterbrothersbehindhim。Thenshesaidtoherhusband:\'Manushasreturnedwithhistwelvefosterbrothers。WouldthatIcouldputanendtohimandhismurderingandhisslaying。\'
\'Thatwereagreatpity,\'answeredIarlaid。\'AnditisnotIthatwilldoit。\'
\'IfyouwillnotdoitIwill,\'saidshe。Andshecalledthetwelvefosterbrothersandmadethemvowfealtytoherself。SoManuswasleftwithnoman,andsorrowfulwashewhenhereturnedalonetoOldBergen。
Itwaslatewhenhisfoottouchedtheshore,andtookthepathtowardstheforest。Onhiswaytheremethimamaninaredtunic。
\'Isityou,Manus,comebackagain？\'askedhe。
\'ItisI,\'answeredManus;\'alonehaveIreturnedfromthelandofLochlann。\'
Themaneyedhimsilentlyforamoment,andthenhesaid:
\'IdreamedthatyouweregirtwithaswordandbecamekingofLochlann。\'ButManusanswered:
\'Ihavenoswordandmybowisbroken。\'
\'Iwillgiveyouanewswordifyouwillmakemeapromise,\'saidthemanoncemore。
\'TobesureIwillmakeit,ifeverIamking,\'answeredManus。\'Butspeak,andtellmewhatpromiseIamtomake。\'
\'Iwasyourgrandfather\'sarmourer,\'repliedtheman,\'andIwishtobeyourarmoureralso。\'
\'ThatIwillpromisereadily,\'saidManus;andfollowedthemanintohishouse,whichwasatalittledistance。Butthehousewasnotlikeotherhouses,forthewallsofeveryroomwerehungsothickwitharmsthatyoucouldnotseetheboards。
\'Choosewhatyouwill,\'saidtheman;andManusunhookedaswordandtrieditacrosshisknee,anditbroke,andsodidthenext,andthenext。
\'Leaveoffbreakingtheswords,\'criedtheman,\'andlookatthisoldswordandhelmetandtunicthatIworeinthewarsofyourgrandfather。
Perhapsyoumayfindthemofstoutersteel。\'AndManusbenttheswordthriceacrosshiskneebuthecouldnotbreakit。Sohegirdedittohisside,andputontheoldhelmet。Ashefastenedthestraphiseyefellonaclothflappingoutsidethewindow。
\'Whatclothisthat？\'askedhe。
\'ItisacloththatwaswovenbytheLittlePeopleoftheforest,\'saidtheman;\'andwhenyouarehungryitwillgiveyoufoodanddrink,andifyoumeetafoe,hewillnothurtyou,butwillstoopandkissthebackofyourhandintokenofsubmission。Takeit,anduseitwell。\'
Manusgladlywrappedtheshawlroundhisarm,andwasleavingthehouse,whenheheardtherattlingofachainblownbythewind。
\'Whatchainisthat？\'askedhe。
\'Thecreaturewhohasthatchainroundhisneck,neednotfearahundredenemies,\'answeredthearmourer。AndManuswounditroundhimandpassedonintotheforest。
Suddenlytheresprangoutfromthebushestwolions,andalioncubwiththem。Thefiercebeastsboundedtowardshim,roaringloudly,andwouldfainhaveeatenhim,butquicklyManusstoopedandspreadtheclothupontheground。Atthatthelionsstopped,andbowingtheirgreatheads,kissedthebackofhiswristandwenttheirways。Butthecubrolleditselfupinthecloth;soManuspickedthembothup,andcarriedthemwithhimtoOldBergen。
Anotheryearwentby,andthenhetookthelioncubandsetforthtothelandofLochlann。AndthewifeofIarlaidcametomeethim,andabrowndog,smallbutfullofcourage,camewithher。Whenthedogbeheldthelioncubherushedtowardshim,thinkingtoeathim;butthecubcaughtthedogbytheneck,andshookhim,andhewasdead。AndthewifeofIarlaidmournedhimsore,andherwrathwaskindled,andmanytimesshetriedtoslayManusandhiscub,butshecouldnot。AndatlasttheytwowentbacktoOldBergen,andthetwelvefosterbrotherswentalso。
\'Letthemgo,\'saidthewifeofIarlaid,whensheheardofit。\'MybrothertheRedGruagachwilltaketheheadoffManusaswellinOldBergenaselsewhere。\'
NowthesewordswerecarriedbyamessengertothewifeofOireal,andshemadehasteandsentashiptoOldBergentobearawayhersonbeforetheRedGruagachshouldtaketheheadoffhim。Andintheshipwasapilot。ButthewifeofIarlaidmadeathickfogtocoverthefaceofthesea,andtherowerscouldnotrow,lesttheyshoulddrivetheshipontoarock。Andwhennightcame,thelioncub,whoseeyeswerebrightandkeen,stoleuptoManus,andManusgotonhisback,andthelioncubsprangashoreandbadeManusrestontherockandwaitforhim。SoManusslept,andby—and—byavoicesoundedinhisears,saying:\'Arise！\'Andhesawashipinthewaterbeneathhim,andintheshipsatthelioncupintheshapeofthepilot。
Thentheysailedawaythroughthefog,andnonesawthem;andtheyreachedthelandofLochlann,andthelioncubwiththechainroundhisnecksprangfromtheshipandManusfollowedafter。Andthelioncubkilledallthementhatguardedthecastle,andIarlaidandhiswifealso,sothat,intheend,ManussonofOirealwascrownedkingofLochlann。
[ShortenedfromWestHighlandTales。]
PinkeltheThiefLong,longagotherelivedawidowwhohadthreesons。Thetwoeldestweregrownup,andthoughtheywereknowntobeidlefellows,someoftheneighbourshadgiventhemworktodoonaccountoftherespectinwhichtheirmotherwasheld。Butatthetimethisstorybeginstheyhadbothbeensocarelessandidlethattheirmastersdeclaredtheywouldkeepthemnolonger。
Sohometheywenttotheirmotherandyoungestbrother,ofwhomtheythoughtlittle,becausehemadehimselfusefulaboutthehouse,andlookedafterthehens,andmilkedthecow。\'Pinkel,\'theycalledhiminscorn,andby—and—by\'Pinkel\'becamehisnamethroughoutthevillage。
Thetwoyoungmenthoughtitwasmuchnicertoliveathomeandbeidlethantobeobligedtodoaquantityofdisagreeablethingstheydidnotlike,andtheywouldhavestayedbythefiretilltheendoftheirliveshadnotthewidowlostpatiencewiththemandsaidthatsincetheywouldnotlookforworkathometheymustseekitelsewhere,forshewouldnothavethemunderherroofanylonger。ButsherepentedbitterlyofherwordswhenPinkeltoldherthathetoowasoldenoughtogooutintotheworld,andthatwhenhehadmadeafortunehewouldsendforhismothertokeephouseforhim。
Thewidowweptmanytearsatpartingfromheryoungestson,butasshesawthathisheartwassetupongoingwithhisbrothers,shedidnottrytokeephim。Sotheyoungmenstartedoffonemorninginhighspirits,neverdoubtingthatworksuchastheymightbewillingtodowouldbehadfortheasking,assoonastheirlittlestoreofmoneywasspent。
Butaveryfewdaysofwanderingopenedtheireyes。Nobodyseemedtowantthem,or,iftheydid,theyoungmendeclaredthattheywerenotabletoundertakeallthatthefarmersormillersorwoodcuttersrequiredofthem。Theyoungestbrother,whowaswiser,wouldgladlyhavedonesomeoftheworkthattheothersrefused,buthewassmallandslight,andnoonethoughtofofferinghimany。Thereforetheywentfromoneplacetoanother,livingonlyonthefruitandnutstheycouldfindinthewoods,andgettinghungriereveryday。
Onenight,aftertheyhadbeenwalkingformanyhoursandwereverytired,theycametoalargelakewithanislandinthemiddleofit。
Fromtheislandstreamedastronglight,bywhichtheycouldseeeverythingalmostasclearlyasifthesunhadbeenshining,andtheyperceivedthat,lyinghalfhiddenintherushes,wasaboat。
\'Letustakeitandrowovertotheisland,wheretheremustbeahouse,\'saidtheeldestbrother;\'andperhapstheywillgiveusfoodandshelter。\'Andtheyallgotinandrowedacrossinthedirectionofthelight。Astheydrewneartheislandtheysawthatitcamefromagoldenlanternhangingoverthedoorofahut,whilesweettinklingmusicproceededfromsomebellsattachedtothegoldenhornsofagoatwhichwasfeedingnearthecottage。Theyoungmen\'sheartsrejoicedastheythoughtthatatlasttheywouldbeabletoresttheirwearylimbs,andtheyenteredthehut,butwereamazedtoseeanuglyoldwomaninside,wrappedinacloakofgoldwhichlightedupthewholehouse。
Theylookedateachotheruneasilyasshecameforwardwithherdaughter,astheyknewbythecloakthatthiswasafamouswitch。
\'Whatdoyouwant？\'askedshe,atthesametimesigningtoherdaughtertostirthelargepotonthefire。
\'Wearetiredandhungry,andwouldfainhaveshelterforthenight,\'
answeredtheeldestbrother。
\'Youcannotgetithere,\'saidthewitch,\'butyouwillfindbothfoodandshelterinthepalaceontheothersideofthelake。Takeyourboatandgo;butleavethisboywithme——Icanfindworkforhim,thoughsomethingtellsmeheisquickandcunning,andwilldomeill。\'
\'WhatharmcanapoorboylikemedoagreatTrolllikeyou？\'answeredPinkel。\'Letmego,Iprayyou,withmybrothers。Iwillpromisenevertohurtyou。\'Andatlastthewitchlethimgo,andhefollowedhisbrotherstotheboat。
Thewaywasfurtherthantheythought,anditwasmorningbeforetheyreachedthepalace。
Now,atlast,theirluckseemedtohaveturned,forwhilethetwoeldestweregivenplacesintheking\'sstables,Pinkelwastakenaspagetothelittleprince。Hewasacleverandamusingboy,whosaweverythingthatpassedunderhiseyes,andthekingnoticedthis,andoftenemployedhiminhisownservice,whichmadehisbrothersveryjealous。
Thingswentonthiswayforsometime,andPinkeleverydayroseintheroyalfavour。Atlengththeenvyofhisbrothersbecamesogreatthattheycouldbearitnolonger,andconsultedtogetherhowbesttheymightruinhiscreditwiththeking。Theydidnotwishtokillhim——though,perhaps,theywouldnothavebeensorryiftheyhadheardhewasdead——butmerelywishedtoremindhimthathewasafterallonlyachild,nothalfsooldandwiseasthey。
Theiropportunitysooncame。Ithappenedtobetheking\'scustomtovisithisstablesonceaweek,sothathemightseethathishorseswerebeingproperlycaredfor。Thenexttimeheenteredthestablesthetwobrothersmanagedtobeintheway,andwhenthekingpraisedthebeautifulsatinskinsofthehorsesundertheircharge,andremarkedhowdifferentwastheirconditionwhenhisgroomshadfirstcomeacrossthelake,theyoungmenatoncebegantospeakofthewonderfullightwhichsprangfromthelanternoverthehut。Theking,whohadapassionforcollectionalltherarestthingshecouldfind,fellintothetrapdirectly,andinquiredwherehecouldgetthismarvellouslantern。
\'SendPinkelforit,Sire,\'saidthey。\'Itbelongstoanoldwitch,whonodoubtcamebyitinsomeevilway。ButPinkelhasasmoothtongue,andhecangetthebetterofanywoman,oldoryoung。\'
\'Thenbidhimgothisverynight,\'criedtheking;\'andifhebringsmethelanternIwillmakehimoneofthechiefmenaboutmyperson。\'
Pinkelwasmuchpleasedatthethoughtofhisadventure,andwithoutmoreadoheborrowedalittleboatwhichlaymooredtotheshore,androwedovertotheislandatonce。Itwaslatebythetimehearrived,andalmostdark,butheknewbythesavourysmellthatreachedhimthatthewitchwascookinghersupper。Soheclimbedsoftlyontotheroof,and,peering,watchedtilltheoldwoman\'sbackwasturned,whenhequicklydrewahandfulofsaltfromhispocketandthrewitintothepot。Scarcelyhadhedonethiswhenthewitchcalledherdaughterandbadeherliftthepotoffthefireandputthestewintoadish,asithadbeencookingquitelongenoughandshewashungry。Butnosoonerhadshetasteditthansheputherspoondown,anddeclaredthatherdaughtermusthavebeenmeddlingwithit,foritwasimpossibletoeatanythingthatwasallmadeofsalt。
\'Godowntothespringinthevalley,andgetsomefreshwater,thatI
mayprepareafreshsupper,\'criedshe,\'forIfeelhalf—starved。\'
\'But,mother,\'answeredthegirl,\'howcanIfindthewellinthisdarkness？Foryouknowthatthelantern\'sraysshednolightdownthere。\'
\'Well,then,takethelanternwithyou,\'answeredthewitch,\'forsupperImusthave,andthereisnowaterthatisnearer。\'
Sothegirltookherpailinonehandandthegoldenlanternintheother,andhastenedawaytothewell,followedbyPinkel,whotookcaretokeepoutofthewayoftherays。WhenatlastshestoopedtofillherpailatthewellPinkelpushedherintoit,andsnatchingupthelanternhurriedbacktohisboatandrowedofffromtheshore。
Hewasalreadyalongdistancefromtheislandwhenthewitch,whowonderedwhathadbecomeofherdaughter,wenttothedoortolookforher。Closearoundthehutwasthickdarkness,butwhatwasthatbobbinglightthatstreamedacrossthewater？Thewitch\'sheartsankasallatonceitflasheduponherwhathadhappened。
\'Isthatyou,Pinkel？\'criedshe;andtheyouthanswered:
\'Yes,dearmother,itisI！\'
\'Andareyounotaknaveforrobbingme？\'saidshe。
\'Truly,dearmother,Iam,\'repliedPinkel,rowingfasterthanever,forhewashalfafraidthatthewitchmightcomeafterhim。Butshehadnopoweronthewater,andturnedangrilyintothehut,mutteringtoherselfallthewhile:
\'Takecare！takecare！Asecondtimeyouwillnotescapesoeasily！\'
ThesunhadnotyetrisenwhenPinkelreturnedtothepalace,and,enteringtheking\'schamber,heheldupthelanternsothatitsraysmightfalluponthebed。Inaninstantthekingawoke,andseeingthegoldenlanternsheddingitslightuponhim,hesprangup,andembracedPinkelwithjoy。
\'Ocunningone,\'criedhe,\'whattreasurehastthoubroughtme！\'AndcallingforhisattendantsheorderedthatroomsnexthisownshouldbepreparedforPinkel,andthattheyouthmightenterhispresenceatanyhour。Andbesidesthis,hewastohaveaseatonthecouncil。
Itmayeasilybeguessedthatallthismadethebrothersmoreenviousthantheywerebefore;andtheycastaboutintheirmindsafreshhowbesttheymightdestroyhim。Atlengththeyrememberedthegoatwithgoldenhornsandthebells,andtheyrejoiced;\'For,\'saidthey,\'THIS
timetheoldwomanwillbeonthewatch,andlethimbeascleverashelikes,thebellsonthehornsaresuretowarnher。\'Sowhen,asbefore,thekingcamedowntothestablesandpraisedtheclevernessoftheirbrother,theyoungmentoldhimofthatothermarvelpossessedbythewitch,thegoatwiththegoldenhorns。
Fromthismomentthekingneverclosedhiseyesatnightforlongingafterthiswonderfulcreature。Heunderstoodsomethingofthedangerthattheremightbeintryingtostealit,nowthatthewitch\'ssuspicionswerearoused,andhespenthoursinmakingplansforoutwittingher。Butsomehowhenevercouldthinkofanythingthatwoulddo,andatlast,asthebrothershadforeseen,hesentforPinkel。
\'Ihear,\'hesaid,\'thattheoldwitchontheislandhasagoatwithgoldenhornsfromwhichhangbellsthattinklethesweetestmusic。
ThatgoatImusthave！But,tellme,howamItogetit？Iwouldgivethethirdpartofmykingdomtoanyonewhowouldbringittome。\'
\'Iwillfetchitmyself,\'answeredPinkel。
ThistimeitwaseasierforPinkeltoapproachtheislandunseen,astherewasnogoldenlanterntothrownitsbeamsoverthewater。But,ontheotherhand,thegoatsleptinsidethehut,andwouldthereforehavetobetakenfromundertheveryeyesoftheoldwoman。Howwashetodoit？Allthewayacrossthelakehethoughtandthought,tillatlengthaplancameintohisheadwhichseemedasifitmightdo,thoughheknewitwouldbeverydifficulttocarryout。
Thefirstthinghedidwhenhereachedtheshorewastolookaboutforapieceofwood,andwhenhehadfoundithehidhimselfclosetothehut,tillitgrewquitedarkandnearthehourwhenthewitchandherdaughterwenttobed。Thenhecreptupandfixedthewoodunderthedoor,whichopenedoutwards,insuchamannerthatthemoreyoutriedtoshutitthemorefirmlyitstuck。Andthiswaswhathappenedwhenthegirlwentasusualtoboltthedoorandmakeallfastforthenight。
\'Whatareyoudoing？\'askedthewitch,asherdaughterkepttuggingatthehandle。
\'Thereissomethingthematterwiththedoor;itwon\'tshut,\'answeredshe。
\'Well,leaveitalone;thereisnobodytohurtus,\'saidthewitch,whowasverysleepy;andthegirldidasshewasbid,andwenttobed。
Verysoontheybothmighthavebeenheardsnoring,andPinkelknewthathistimewascome。Slippingoffhisshoeshestoleintothehutontiptoe,andtakingfromhispocketsomefoodofwhichthegoatwasparticularlyfond,helaiditunderhisnose。Then,whiletheanimalwaseatingit,hestuffedeachgoldenbellwithwoolwhichhehadalsobroughtwithhim,stoppingeveryminutetolisten,lestthewitchshouldawaken,andheshouldfindhimselfchangedintosomedreadfulbirdorbeast。Butthesnoringstillcontinued,andhewentonwithhisworkasquicklyashecould。Whenthelastbellwasdonehedrewanotherhandfuloffoodoutofhispocket,andhelditouttothegoat,whichinstantlyrosetoitsfeetandfollowedPinkel,whobackedslowlytothedoor,anddirectlyhegotoutsideheseizedthegoatinhisarmsandrandowntotheplacewherehehadmooredhisboat。
Assoonashehadreachedthemiddleofthelake,Pinkeltookthewooloutofthebells,whichbegantotinkleloudly。Theirsoundawokethewitch,whocriedoutasbefore:
\'Isthatyou,Pinkel？\'
\'Yes,dearmother,itisI,\'saidPinkel。
\'Haveyoustolenmygoldengoat？\'askedshe。
\'Yes,dearmother,Ihave,\'answeredPinkel。
\'Areyounotaknave,Pinkel？\'
\'Yes,dearmother,Iam,\'hereplied。Andtheoldwitchshoutedinarage:
\'Ah！bewarehowyoucomehitheragain,fornexttimeyoushallnotescapeme！\'
ButPinkellaughedandrowedon。
Thekingwassodelightedwiththegoatthathealwayskeptitbyhisside,nightandday;and,ashehadpromised,Pinkelwasmaderuleroverthethirdpartofthekingdom。Asmaybesupposed,thebrothersweremorefuriousthanever,andgrewquitethinwithrage。
\'Howcanwegetridofhim？\'saidonetotheother。Andatlengththeyrememberedthegoldencloak。
\'Hewillneedtobecleverifheistostealthat！\'theycried,withachuckle。AndwhennextthekingcametoseehishorsestheybegantospeakofPinkelandhismarvellouscunning,andhowhehadcontrivedtostealthelanternandthegoat,whichnobodyelsewouldhavebeenabletodo。