Thentheswallowflewaway,andthechildren,whohadforgottenbothhungerandwearinessinthejoyofthisstrangenews,roseupandfollowedinthedirectionofherflight。Aftertwohours'walking,theyarrivedatalargecity,whichtheyfeltsuremustbethecapitaloftheirfather'skingdom。Seeingagood—naturedlookingwomanstandingatthedoorofahouse,theyaskedherifshewouldgivethemanight'slodging,andshewassopleasedwiththeirprettyfacesandnicemannersthatshewelcomedthemwarmly。
　　Itwasscarcelylightthenextmorningbeforethegirlwassweepingouttherooms,andtheboywateringthegarden,sothatbythetimethegoodwomancamedownstairstherewasnothingleftforhertodo。Thissodelightedherthatshebeggedthechildrentostaywithheraltogether,andtheboyansweredthathewouldleavehissisterswithhergladly,butthathehimselfhadseriousbusinessonhandandmustnotlingerinpursuitofit。Sohebadethemfarewellandsetout。
　　Forthreedayshewanderedbythemostout—of—the—waypaths,butnosignsofatowerweretobeseenanywhere。Onthefourthmorningitwasjustthesame,and,filledwithdespair,heflunghimselfonthegroundunderatreeandhidhisfaceinhishands。Inalittlewhileheheardarustlingoverhishead,andlookingup,hesawaturtledovewatchinghimwithherbrighteyes。
　　'Ohdove！'criedtheboy,addressingthebirdinherownlanguage,'Ohdove！tellme,Iprayyou,whereisthecastleofCome—and—never—go？'
　　'Poorchild,'answeredthedove,'whohassentyouonsuchauselessquest？'
　　'Mygoodorevilfortune,'repliedtheboy,'Iknownotwhich。'
　　'Togetthere,'saidthedove,'youmustfollowthewind,whichto—dayisblowingtowardsthecastle。'
　　Theboythankedher,andfollowedthewind,fearingallthetimethatitmightchangeitsdirectionandleadhimastray。Butthewindseemedtofeelpityforhimandblewsteadilyon。
　　Witheachstepthecountrybecamemoreandmoredreary,butatnightfallthechildcouldseebehindthedarkandbarerockssomethingdarkerstill。Thiswasthetowerinwhichdweltthewitch;andseizingtheknockerhegavethreeloudknocks,whichwereechoedinthehollowsoftherocksaround。
　　Thedooropenedslowly,andthereappearedonthethresholdanoldwomanholdingupacandletoherface,whichwassohideousthattheboyinvoluntarilysteppedbackwards,almostasfrightenedbythetroopoflizards,beetlesandsuchcreaturesthatsurroundedher,asbythewomanherself。
　　'Whoareyouwhodaretoknockatmydoorandwakeme？'criedshe。'Bequickandtellmewhatyouwant,oritwillbetheworseforyou。'
　　'Madam,'answeredthechild,'IbelievethatyoualoneknowthewaytothecastleofCome—and—never—go,andIprayyoutoshowittome。'
　　'Verygood,'repliedthewitch,withsomethingthatshemeantforasmile,'butto—dayitislate。To—morrowyoushallgo。Nowenter,andyoushallsleepwithmylizards。'
　　'Icannotstay,'saidhe。'Imustgobackatonce,soastoreachtheroadfromwhichIstartedbeforedaydawns。'
　　'IfItellyou,willyoupromisemethatyouwillbringmethisjarfullofthemany—colouredwaterfromthespringinthecourt—yardofthecastle？'askedshe。'IfyoufailtokeepyourwordIwillchangeyouintoalizardforever。'
　　'Ipromise,'answeredtheboy。
　　Thentheoldwomancalledtoaverythindog,andsaidtohim:
　　'ConductthispigofachildtothecastleofCome—and—never—go,andtakecarethatyouwarnmyfriendofhisarrival。'Andthedogaroseandshookitself,andsetout。
　　Attheendoftwohourstheystoppedinfrontofalargecastle,bigandblackandgloomy,whosedoorsstoodwideopen,althoughneithersoundnorlightgavesignofanypresencewithin。Thedog,however,seemedtoknowwhattoexpect,and,afterawildhowl,wenton;buttheboy,whowasuncertainwhetherthiswasthequarterofanhourwhenthegiantwasasleep,hesitatedtofollowhim,andpausedforamomentunderawildolivethatgrewnearby,theonlytreewhichhehadbeheldsincehehadpartedfromthedove。'Oh,heaven,helpme！'criedhe。
　　'Cross！cross！'answeredavoice。
　　Theboyleaptforjoyasherecognisedthenoteoftheowlofwhichtheswallowhadspoken,andhesaidsoftlyinthebird'slanguage:
　　'Oh,wiseowl,Iprayyoutoprotectandguideme,forIhavecomeinsearchoftheBirdofTruth。AndfirstImustfillthisfarwiththemany—colouredwaterinthecourtyardofthecastle。'
　　'Donotdothat,'answeredtheowl,'butfillthejarfromthespringwhichbubblesclosebythefountainwiththemany—colouredwater。
　　Afterwards,gointotheaviaryoppositethegreatdoor,butbecarefulnottotouchanyofthebright—plumagedbirdscontainedinit,whichwillcrytoyou,eachone,thatheistheBirdofTruth。Chooseonlyasmallwhitebirdthatishiddeninacorner,whichtheotherstryincessantlytokill,notknowingthatitcannotdie。And,bequick！——foratthisverymomentthegianthasfallenasleep,andyouhaveonlyaquarterofanhourtodoeverything。'
　　Theboyranasfastashecouldandenteredthecourtyard,wherehesawthetwospringclosetogether。Hepassedbythemany—colouredwaterwithoutcastingaglanceatit,andfilledthejarfromthefountainwhosewaterwasclearandpure。Henexthastenedtotheaviary,andwasalmostdeafenedbytheclamourthatroseasheshutthedoorbehindhim。Voicesofpeacocks,voicesofravens,voicesofmagpies,eachclaimingtobetheBirdofTruth。Withsteadfastfacetheboywalkedbythemall,tothecorner,where,hemmedinbyahandoffiercecrows,wasthesmallwhitebirdhesought。Puttinghersafelyinhisbreast,hepassedout,followedbythescreamsofthebirdsofBadFaithwhichheleftbehindhim。
　　Onceoutside,heranwithoutstoppingtothewitch'stower,andhandedtotheoldwomanthejarshehadgivenhim。
　　'Becomeaparrot！'criedshe,flingingthewateroverhim。Butinsteadoflosinghisshape,assomanyhaddonebefore,heonlygrewtentimeshandsomer;forthewaterwasenchantedforgoodandnotill。Thenthecreepingmultitudearoundthewitchhastenedtorollthemselvesinthewater,andstoodup,humanbeingsagain。
　　Whenthewitchsawwhatwashappening,shetookabroomstickandflewaway。
　　Whocanguessthedelightofthesisteratthesightofherbrother,bearingtheBirdofTruth？Butalthoughtheboyhadaccomplishedmuch,somethingverydifficultyetremained,andthatwashowtocarrytheBirdofTruthtothekingwithoutherbeingseizedbythewickedcourtiers,whowouldberuinedbythediscoveryoftheirplot。
　　Soon——nooneknewhow——thenewsspreadabroadthattheBirdofTruthwashoveringroundthepalace,andthecourtiersmadeallsortsofpreparationstohinderherreachingtheking。
　　Theygotreadyweaponsthatweresharpened,andweaponsthatwerepoisoned;theysentforeaglesandfalconstohuntherdown,andconstructedcagesandboxesinwhichtoshutherupiftheywerenotabletokillher。Theydeclaredthatherwhiteplumagewasreallyputontohideherblackfeathers——infacttherewasnothingtheydidnotdoinordertopreventthekingfromseeingthebirdorfrompayingattentiontoherwordsifhedid。
　　Asoftenhappensinthesecases,thecourtiersbroughtaboutthatwhichtheyfeared。TheytalkedsomuchabouttheBirdofTruththatatlastthekingheardofit,andexpressedawishtoseeher。Themoredifficultiesthatwereputinhiswaythestrongergrewhisdesire,andintheendthekingpublishedaproclamationthatwhoeverfoundtheBirdofTruthshouldbringhertohimwithoutdelay。
　　Assoonashesawthisproclamationtheboycalledhissister,andtheyhastenedtothepalace。Thebirdwasbuttonedinsidehistunic,but,asmighthavebeenexpected,thecourtiersbarredtheway,andtoldthechildthathecouldnotenter。Itwasinvainthattheboydeclaredthathewasonlyobeyingtheking'scommands;thecourtiersonlyrepliedthathismajestywasnotyetoutofbed,anditwasforbiddentowakehim。
　　Theywerestilltalking,when,suddenly,thebirdsettledthequestionbyflyingupwardsthroughanopenwindowintotheking'sownroom。
　　Alightingonthepillow,closetotheking'shead,shebowedrespectfully,andsaid:
　　'Mylord,IamtheBirdofTruthwhomyouwishedtosee,andIhavebeenobligedtoapproachyouinthemannerbecausetheboywhobroughtmeiskeptoutofthepalacebyyourcourtiers。'
　　'Theyshallpayfortheirinsolence,'saidtheking。Andheinstantlyorderedoneofhisattendantstoconducttheboyatoncetohisapartments;andinamomentmoretheprinceentered,holdinghissisterbythehand。
　　'Whoareyou？'askedtheking;'andwhathastheBirdofTruthtodowithyou？'
　　'Ifitpleaseyourmajesty,theBirdofTruthwillexplainthatherself,'answeredtheboy。
　　Andthebirddidexplain;andthekingheardforthefirsttimeofthewickedplotthathadbeensuccessfulforsomanyyears。Hetookhischildreninhisarms,withtearsinhiseyes,andhurriedoffwiththemtothetowerinthemountainswherethequeenwasshutup。Thepoorwomanwasaswhiteasmarble,forshehadbeenlivingalmostindarkness;butwhenshesawherhusbandandchildren,thecolourcamebacktoherface,andshewasasbeautifulasever。
　　Theyallreturnedinstatetothecity,wheregreatrejoicingswereheld。Thewickedcourtiershadtheirheadscutoff,andalltheirpropertywastakenaway。Asforthegoodoldcouple,theyweregivenrichesandhonour,andwerelovedandcherishedtotheendoftheirlives。
　　[FromCuentos,OracionesyAdivinas,porFernanCaballero。]
　　TheMinkandtheWolfInabigforestinthenorthofAmericalivedaquantityofwildanimalsofallsorts。Theywerealwaysverypolitewhentheymet;but,inspiteofthat,theykeptaclosewatchoneupontheother,aseachwasafraidofbeingkilledandeatenbysomebodyelse。Buttheirmannersweresogoodthatnoonewouldeverhadguessedthat。
　　Onedayasmartyoungwolfwentouttohunt,promisinghisgrandfatherandgrandmotherthathewouldbesuretobebackbeforebedtime。Hetrottedalongquitehappilythroughtheforesttillhecametoafavouriteplaceofhis,justwheretheriverrunsintothesea。There,justashehadhoped,hesawthechiefminkfishinginacanoe。
　　'Iwanttofishtoo,'criedthewolf。Buttheminksaidnothingandpretendednottohear。
　　'Iwishyouwouldtakemeintoyourboat！'shoutedthewolf,louderthanbefore,andhecontinuedtobeseechtheminksolongthatatlasthegrewtiredofit,andpaddledtotheshorecloseenoughforthewolftojumpin。
　　'Sitdownquietlyatthatendorweshallbeupset,'saidthemink;
　　'andifyoucareaboutsea—urchins'eggs,youwillfindplentyinthatbasket。Butbesureyoueatonlythewhiteones,fortheredoneswouldkillyou。'
　　Sothewolf,whowasalwayshungry,begantoeattheeggsgreedily;andwhenhehadfinishedhetoldtheminkhethoughthewouldhaveanap。
　　'Well,then,stretchyourselfout,andrestyourheadonthatpieceofwood,'saidthemink。Andthewolfdidashewasbid,andwassoonfastasleep。Thentheminkcreptuptohimandstabbedhimtotheheartwithhisknife,andhediedwithoutmoving。Afterthathelandedonthebeach,skinnedthewolf,andtakingtheskintohiscottage,hehungitupbeforethefiretodry。
　　Notmanydayslaterthewolf'sgrandmother,who,withthehelpofherrelations,hadbeensearchingforhimeverywhere,enteredthecottagetobuysomesea—urchins'eggs,andsawtheskin,whichsheatonceguessedtobethatofhergrandson。
　　'Iknewhewasdead——Iknewit！Iknewit！'shecried,weepingbitterly,tilltheminktoldherrudelythatifshewantedtomakesomuchnoiseshehadbetterdoitoutsideashelikedtobequiet。So,half—blindedbyhertears,theoldwomanwenthomethewayshehadcome,andrunninginatthedoor,sheflungherselfdowninfrontofthefire。
　　'Whatareyoucryingfor？'askedtheoldwolfandsomefriendswhohadbeenspendingtheafternoonwithhim。
　　'Ishallneverseemygrandsonanymore！'answeredshe。'Minkhaskilledhim,oh！oh！'Andputtingherheaddown,shebegantoweepasloudlyasever。
　　'There！there！'saidherhusband,layinghispawonhershoulder。'Becomforted;ifheISdead,wewillavengehim。'Andcallingtotheotherstheyproceededtotalkoverthebestplan。Ittookthemalongtimetomakeuptheirminds,asonewolfproposedonethingandoneanother;butatlastitwasagreedthattheoldwolfshouldgiveagreatfeastinhishouse,andthattheminkshouldbeinvitedtotheparty。Andinorderthatnotimeshouldbelostitwasfurtheragreedthateachwolfshouldbeartheinvitationstothegueststhatlivednearesttohim。
　　Nowthewolvesthoughttheywereverycunning,buttheminkwasmorecunningstill;andthoughhesentamessagebyawhitehare,thatwasgoingthatway,sayingheshouldbedelightedtobepresent,hedeterminedthathewouldtakehisprecautions。Sohewenttoamousewhohadoftendonehimagoodturn,andgreetedherwithhisbestbow。
　　'Ihaveafavourtoaskofyou,friendmouse,'saidhe,'andifyouwillgrantitIwillcarryyouonmybackeverynightforaweektothepatchofmaizerightupthehill。'
　　'Thefavourismine,'answeredthemouse。'TellmewhatitisthatI
　　canhavethehonourofdoingforyou。'
　　'Oh,somethingquiteeasy,'repliedthemink。'Ionlywantyou——betweento—dayandthenextfullmoon——tognawthroughthebowsandpaddlesofthewolfpeople,sothatdirectlytheyusethemtheywillbreak。Butofcourseyoumustmanageitsothattheynoticenothing。'
　　'Ofcourse,'answeredthemouse,'nothingiseasier;butasthefullmoonisto—morrownight,andthereisnotmuchtime,Ihadbetterbeginatonce。'Thentheminkthankedher,andwenthisway;butbeforehehadgonefarhecamebackagain。
　　'Perhaps,whileyouareaboutthewolf'shouseseeingafterthebows,itwoulddonoharmifyouweretomakethatknot—holeinthewallalittlebigger,'saidhe。'Notlargeenoughtodrawattention,ofcourse;butitmightcomeinhandy。'Andwithanothernodhelefther。
　　Thenexteveningtheminkwashedandbrushedhimselfcarefullyandsetoutforthefeast。Hesmiledtohimselfashelookedatthedustytrack,andperceivedthatthoughthemarksofwolves'feetweremany,notasingleguestwastobeseenanywhere。Heknewverywellwhatthatmeant;buthehadtakenhisprecautionsandwasnotafraid。
　　Thehousedoorstoodopen,butthroughacracktheminkcouldseethewolvescrowdinginthecornerbehindit。However,heenteredboldly,andassoonashewasfairlyinsidethedoorwasshutwithabang,andthewholeherdsprangathim,withtheirredtongueshangingoutoftheirmouths。Quickastheyweretheyweretoolate,fortheminkwasalreadythroughtheknot—holeandracingforhiscanoe。
　　Theknot—holewastoosmallforthewolves,andthereweresomanyoftheminthehutthatitwassometimebeforetheycouldgetthedooropen。Thentheyseizedthebowsandarrowswhichwerehangingonthewallsand,onceoutside,aimedattheflyingmink;butastheypulledthebowsbrokeintheirpaws,sotheythrewthemaway,andboundedtotheshore,withalltheirspeed,totheplacewheretheircanoesweredrawnuponthebeach。
　　Now,althoughtheminkcouldnotrunasfastasthewolves,hehadagoodstart,andwasalreadyafloatwhentheswiftestamongthemthrewthemselvesintothenearestcanoe。Theypushedoff,butastheydippedthepaddlesintothewater,theysnappedasthebowshaddone,andwerequiteuseless。
　　'Iknowwheretherearesomenewones,'criedayoungfellow,leapingonshoreandrushingtoalittlecaveatthebackofthebeach。Andthemink'sheartsmotehimwhenheheard,forhehadnotknownofthissecretstore。
　　Afteralongchasethewolvesmanagedtosurroundtheirprey,andthemink,seeingitwasnogoodresistinganymore,gavehimselfup。Someoftheelderwolvesbroughtoutsomecedarbands,whichtheyalwayscarriedwoundroundtheirbodies,buttheminklaughedscornfullyatthesightofthem。
　　'WhyIcouldsnapthoseinamoment,'saidhe;'ifyouwanttomakesurethatIcannotescape,bettertakealineofkelpandbindmewiththat。'
　　'Youareright,'answeredthegrandfather;'yourwisdomisgreaterthanours。'Andhebadehisservantsgatherenoughkelpfromtherockstomakealine,astheyhadbroughtnonewiththem。
　　'Whilethelineisbeingmadeyoumightaswellletmehaveonelastdance,'remarkedthemink。Andthewolvesreplied:'Verygood,youmayhaveyourdance;perhapsitmayamuseusaswellasyou。'Sotheybroughttwocanoesandplacedthemonebesidetheother。Theminkstooduponhishindlegsandbegantodance,firstinonecanoeandthenintheother;andsogracefulwashe,thatthewolvesforgottheyweregoingtoputhimtodeath,andhowledwithpleasure。
　　'Pullthecanoesalittleapart;theyaretoocloseforthisnewdance,'hesaid,pausingforamoment。Andthewolvesseparatedthemwhilehegaveaseriesoflittlesprings,sometimepirouettingwhilehestoodwithonefootontheprowofboth。'Nownearer,nowfurtherapart,'hewouldcryasthedancewenton。'No！furtherstill。'Andspringingintotheair,amidsthowlsofapplause,hecamedownhead—foremost,anddivedtothebottom。Andthroughthewolves,whosehowlshadnowchangedintothoseofrage,soughthimeverywhere,theyneverfoundhim,forhehidbehindarocktilltheywereoutofsight,andthenmadehishomeinanotherforest。
　　[FromtheJournaloftheAnthropologicalInstitute。]
　　AdventuresofanIndianBraveAlong,longwayoff,rightawayinthewestofAmerica,thereoncelivedanoldmanwhohadoneson。Thecountryroundwascoveredwithforests,inwhichdweltallkindsofwildbeasts,andtheyoungmanandhiscompanionsusedtospendwholedaysinhuntingthem,andhewasthefinesthunterofallthetribe。
　　Onemorning,whenwinterwascomingon,theyouthandhiscompanionssetoffasusualtobringbacksomeofthemountaingoatsanddeertobesalteddown,ashewasafraidofasnow—storm;andifthewindblewandthesnowdriftedtheforestmightbeimpassableforsomeweeks。
　　Theoldmanandthewife,however,wouldnotgoout,butremainedinthewigwammakingbowsandarrows。
　　Itsoongrewsocoldintheforestthatatlastoneofthemendeclaredtheycouldwalknomore,unlesstheycouldmanagetowarmthemselves。
　　'Thatiseasilydone,'saidtheleader,givingakicktoalargetree。
　　Flamesbrokeoutinthetrunk,andbeforeithadburntuptheywereashotasifithadbeensummer。Thentheystartedofftotheplacewherethegoatsanddeerweretobefoundinthegreatestnumbers,andsoonhadkilledasmanyastheywanted。Buttheleaderkilledmost,ashewasthebestshot。
　　'Nowwemustcutupthegameanddivideit,'saidhe;andsotheydid,eachonetakinghisownshare;and,walkingonebehindtheother,setoutforthevillage。Butwhentheyreachedagreatrivertheyoungmandidnotwantthetroubleofcarryinghispackanyfurther,andleftitonthebank。
　　'Iamgoinghomeanotherway,'hetoldhiscompanions。Andtakinganotherroadhereachedthevillagelongbeforetheydid。
　　'Haveyoureturnedwithemptyhands？'askedtheoldman,ashissonopenedthedoor。
　　'HaveIeverdonethat,thatyouputmesuchaquestion？'askedtheyouth。'No;Ihaveslainenoughtofeastusformanymoons,butitwasheavy,andIleftthepackonthebankofthegreatriver。Givemethearrows,Iwillfinishmakingthem,andyoucangototheriverandbringhomethepack！'
　　Sotheoldmanroseandwent,andstrappedthemeatonhisshoulder;
　　butashewascrossingthefordthestrapbrokeandthepackfellintotheriver。Hestoopedtocatchit,butitswirledpasthim。Heclutchedagain;butindoingsoheover—balancedhimselfandwashurriedintosomerapids,wherehewasknockedagainstsomerocks,andhesankandwasdrowned,andhisbodywascarrieddownthestreamintosmootherwaterwhenitrosetothesurfaceagain。Butbythistimeithadlostalllikenesstoaman,andwaschangedintoapieceofwood。
　　Thewoodfloatedon,andtherivergotbiggerandbiggerandenteredanewcountry。Thereitwasbornebythecurrentclosetotheshore,andawomanwhowasdowntherewashingherclothescaughtitasitpassed,anddrewitout,sayingtoherself:'Whatanicesmoothplank！Iwilluseitasatabletoputmyfoodupon。'Andgatheringupherclothesshetooktheplankwithherintoherhut。
　　Whenhersuppertimecameshestretchedtheboardacrosstwostringswhichhungfromtheroof,andsetuponitthepotcontainingastewthatsmeltverygood。Thewomanhadbeenworkinghardalldayandwasveryhungry,soshetookherbiggestspoonandplungeditintothepot。
　　Butwhatwasherastonishmentanddisgustwhenbothpotandfoodvanishedinstantlybeforeher！
　　'Oh,youhorridplank,youhavebroughtmeill—luck！'shecried。Andtakingitupsheflungitawayfromher。
　　Thewomanhadbeensurprisedbeforeatthedisappearanceofherfood,butshewasmoreastonishedstillwhen,insteadoftheplank,shebeheldababy。However,shewasfondofchildrenandhadnoneofherown,soshemadeuphermindthatshewouldkeepitandtakecareofit。Thebabygrewandthroveasnobabyinthatcountryhadeverdone,andinfourdayshewasaman,andastallandstrongasanybraveofthetribe。
　　'Youhavetreatedmewell,'hesaid,'andmeatshallneverfailtoyourhouse。ButnowImustgo,forIhavemuchworktodo。'
　　Thenhesetoutforhishome。
　　Ittookhimmanydaystogetthere,andwhenhesawhissonsittinginhisplacehisangerwaskindled,andhisheartwasstirredtotakevengeanceuponhim。Sohewentoutquicklyintotheforestandshedtears,andeachtearbecameabird。'StaytheretillIwantyou,'saidhe;andhereturnedtothehut。
　　'Isawsomeprettynewbirds,highupinatreeyonder,'heremarked。
　　Andthesonanswered:'ShowmethewayandIwillgetthemfordinner。'
　　Thetwowentouttogether,andafterwalkingforabouthalfanhourtheyoldmanstopped。'Thatisthetree,'hesaid。Andthesonbegantoclimbit。
　　Nowastrangethinghappened。Thehighertheyoungmanclimbedthehigherthebirdsseemedtobe,andwhenhelookeddowntheearthbelowappearednobiggerthanastar。Sillhetriedtogoback,buthecouldnot,andthoughhecouldnotseethebirdsanylongerhefeltasifsomethingweredragginghimupandup。
　　Hethoughtthathehadbeenclimbingthattreefordays,andperhapshehad,forsuddenlyabeautifulcountry,yellowwithfieldsofmaize,stretchedbeforehim,andhegladlyleftthetopofthetreeandenteredit。Hewalkedthroughthemaizewithoutknowingwherehewasgoing,whenheheardasoundofknocking,andsawtwooldblindwomencrushingtheirfoodbetweentwostones。Hecreptuptothemontiptoe,andwhenoneoldwomanpassedherdinnertotheotherheheldouthishandandtookitandateifforhimself。
　　'Howslowyouarekneadingthatcake,'criedtheotheroldwomanatlast。
　　'Why,Ihavegivenyouyourdinner,andwhatmoredoyouwant？'repliedthesecond。
　　'Youdidn't;atleastInevergotit,'saidtheother。
　　'Icertainlythoughtyoutookitfromme;buthereissomemore。'Andagaintheyoungmanstretchedouthishand;andthetwooldwomenfelltoquarrellingafresh。Butwhenithappenedforthethirdtimetheoldwomensuspectedsometrick,andoneofthemexclaimed:
　　'Iamsurethereisamanhere;tellme,areyounotmygrandson？'
　　'Yes,'answeredtheyoungman,whowishedtopleaseher,'andinreturnforyourgooddinnerIwillseeifIcannotrestoreyoursight;forI
　　wastaughtintheartofhealingbythebestmedicinemaninthetribe。'Andwiththatheleftthem,andwanderedabouttillhefoundtheherbwhichhewanted。Thenhehastenedbacktotheoldwomen,andbeggingthemtoboilhimsomewater,hethrewtheherbin。Assoonasthepotbegantosinghetookoffthelid,andsprinkledtheeyesofthewomen,andsightcamebacktothemoncemore。
　　Therewasnonightinthatcountry,so,insteadofgoingtobedveryearly,ashewouldhavedoneinhisownhut,theyoungmantookanotherwalk。Asplashingnoisenearbydrewhimdowntoavalleythroughwhichranalargeriver,andupawaterfallsomesalmonwereleaping。
　　Howtheirsilversidesglistenedinthelight,andhowhelongedtocatchsomeofthegreatfellows！Buthowcouldhedoit？Hehadbeheldnooneexcepttheoldwomen,anditwasnotverylikelythattheywouldbeabletohelphim。Sowithasighheturnedawayandwentbacktothem,but,ashewalked,athoughtstruckhim。Hepulledoutoneofhishairswhichhungnearlytohiswaist,anditinstantlybecameastrongline,nearlyamileinlength。
　　'WeavemeanetthatImaycatchsomesalmon,'saidhe。Andtheywovehimthenetheaskedfor,andformanyweekshewatchedbytheriver,onlygoingbacktotheoldwomenwhenhewantedafishcooked。
　　Atlast,oneday,whenhewaseatinghisdinner,theoldwomanwhoalwaysspokefirst,saidtohim:
　　'Wehavebeenverygladtoseeyou,grandson,butnowitistimethatyouwenthome。'Andpushingasidearock,hesawadeephole,sodeepthathecouldnotseetothebottom。Thentheydraggedabasketoutofthehouse,andtiedaropetoit。'Getin,andwrapthisblanketroundyourhead,'saidthey;'and,whateverhappens,don'tuncoverittillyougettothebottom。'Thentheybadehimfarewell,andhecurledhimselfupinthebasket。
　　Down,down,downhewent;wouldheeverstopgoing？Butwhenthebasketdidstop,theyoungmanforgotwhathehadbeentold,andputhisheadouttoseewhatwasthematter。Inaninstantthebasketmoved,but,tohishorror,insteadofgoingdown,hefelthimselfbeingdrawnupwards,andshortlyafterhebeheldthefacesoftheoldwomen。
　　'Youwillneverseeyourwifeandsonifyouwillnotdoasyouarebid,'saidthey。'Nowgetin,anddonotstirtillyouhearacrowcalling。'
　　Thistimetheyoungmanwaswiser,andthoughthebasketoftenstopped,andstrangecreaturesseemedtorestonhimandtopluckathisblanket,heheldittighttillheheardthecrowcalling。Thenheflungofftheblanketandsprangout,whilethebasketvanishedinthesky。
　　Hewalkedonquicklydownthetrackthatledtothehut,when,beforehim,hesawhiswifewithhislittlesononherback。
　　'Oh！thereisfatheratlast,'criedtheboy;butthemotherbadehimceasefromidletalking。
　　'But,mother,itistrue;fatheriscoming！'repeatedthechild。And,tosatisfyhim,thewomanturnedroundandperceivedherhusband。
　　Oh,howgladtheyallweretobetogetheragain！Andwhenthewindwhistledthroughtheforest,andthesnowstoodingreatbanksroundthedoor,thefatherusedtotakethelittleboyonhiskneeandtellhimhowhecaughtsalmonintheLandoftheSun。
　　[FromtheJournaloftheAnthropologicalInstitute。]
　　HowtheStalosWereTricked'Mother,Ihaveseensuchawonderfulman,'saidalittleboyoneday,asheenteredahutinLapland,bearinginhisarmsthebundleofstickshehadbeensentouttogather。
　　'Haveyou,myson;andwhatwashelike？'askedthemother,asshetookoffthechild'ssheepskincoatandshookitonthedoorstep。
　　'Well,Iwastiredofstoopingforthesticks,andwasleaningagainstatreetorest,whenIheardanoiseof'sh—'sh,amongthedeadleaves。
　　Ithoughtperhapsitwasawolf,soIstoodverystill。Butsoontherecamepastatallman——oh！twiceastallasfather——withalongredbeardandaredtunicfastenedwithasilvergirdle,fromwhichhungasilver—handledknife。Behindhimfollowedagreatdog,whichlookedstrongerthananywolf,orevenabear。Butwhyareyousopale,mother？'
　　'ItwastheStalo,'repliedshe,hervoicetrembling;'Stalotheman—eater！Youdidwelltohide,oryoumightneverhadcomeback。
　　But,rememberthat,thoughheissotallandstrong,heisverystupid,andmanyaLapphasescapedfromhisclutchesbyplayinghimsomeclevertrick。'
　　Notlongafterthemotherandsonhadheldthistalk,itbegantobewhisperedintheforestthatthechildrenofanoldmancalledPattohadvanishedonebyone,nooneknewwhither。Theunhappyfathersearchedthecountryformilesroundwithoutbeingabletofindasmuchasashoeorahandkerchief,toshowhimwheretheyhadpassed,butatlengthalittleboycamewithnewsthathehadseentheStalohidingbehindawell,nearwhichthechildrenusedtoplay。Theboyhadwaitedbehindaclumpofbushestoseewhatwouldhappen,andby—and—byhenoticedthattheStalohadlaidacunningtrapinthepathtothewell,andthatanybodywhofelloveritwouldrollintothewateranddrownthere。
　　And,ashewatched,Patto'syoungestdaughterrangailydownthepath,tillherfootcaughtinthestringsthatwerestretchedacrossthesteepestplace。Sheslippedandfell,andinanotherinstanthadrolledintothewaterwithinreachoftheStalo。
　　AssoonasPattoheardthistalehisheartwasfilledwithrage,andhevowedtohavehisrevenge。Sohestraightwaytookanoldfurcoatfromthehookwhereithung,andputtingitonwentoutintotheforest。
　　Whenhereachedthepaththatledtothewellhelookedhastilyroundtobesurethatnoonewaswatchinghim,thenlaidhimselfdownasifhehadbeencaughtinthesnareandhadrolledintothewell,thoughhetookcaretokeephisheadoutofthewater。
　　Verysoonhehearda'sh—'shoftheleaves,andtherewastheStalopushinghiswaythroughtheundergrowthtoseewhatchancehehadofadinner。AtthefirstglimpseofPatto'sheadinthewellhelaughedloudly,crying:
　　'Ha！ha！Thistimeitistheoldass！Iwonderhowhewilltaste？'AnddrawingPattooutofthewell,heflunghimacrosshisshouldersandcarriedhimhome。Thenhetiedacordroundhimandhunghimoverthefiretoroast,whilehefinishedaboxthathewasmakingbeforethedoorofthehut,whichhemeanttoholdPatto'sfleshwhenitwascooked。Inaveryshorttimetheboxwassonearlydonethatitonlywantedalittlemorechippingoutwithanaxe;butthispartoftheworkwaseasieraccomplishedindoors,andhecalledtooneofhissonswhowerelounginginsidetobringhimthetool。
　　Theyoungmanlookedeverywhere,buthecouldnotfindtheaxe,fortheverygoodreasonthatPattohadmanagedtopickitupandhideitinhisclothes。
　　'Stupidfellow！whatistheuseofyou？'grumbledhisfatherangrily;
　　andhebadefirstoneandthenanotherofhissonstofetchhimthetool,buttheyhadnobettersuccessthantheirbrother。
　　'Imustcomemyself,Isuppose！'saidStalo,puttingasidethebox。
　　But,meanwhile,Pattohadslippedfromthehookandconcealedhimselfbehindthedoor,sothat,asStalosteppedin,hisprisonerraisedtheaxe,andwithoneblowtheogre'sheadwasrollingontheground。Hissonsweresofrightenedatthesightthattheyallranaway。
　　AndinthismannerPattoavengedhisdeadchildren。
　　ButthoughStalowasdead,histhreesonswerestillliving,andnotveryfaroffeither。Theyhadgonetotheirmother,whowastendingsomereindeeronthepastures,andtoldherthatbysomemagic,theyknewnotwhat,theirfather'sheadhadrolledfromhisbody,andtheyhadbeensoafraidthatsomethingdreadfulwouldhappentothemthattheyhadcometotakerefugewithher。Theogresssaidnothing。Longagoshehadfoundouthowstupidhersonswere,soshejustsentthemouttomilkthereindeer,whileshereturnedtotheotherhousetoburyherhusband'sbody。