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。