第81章

Crossingthemoor，Iarrivedinaboutanhouratasmallvillage，fromwhich，afterashortstay，Iproceededtoanother，andfromthencetoathird。IfoundthatthenameofSlingsbywaswellknownintheseparts。

’IfyouareafriendofSlingsbyyoumustbeanhonestlad，’saidanancientcrone；’youshallneverwantforworkwhilstIcangiveityou。Here，takemykettle，thebottomcameoutthismorning，andlendmethatofyourstillyoubringitback。I’mnotafraidtotrustyou-notI。Don’thurryyourself，youngman，ifyoudon’tcomebackforafortnightIshan’thavetheworseopinionofyou。’

Ireturnedtomyquartersatevening，tired，butrejoicedatheart；

Ihadworkbeforemeforseveraldays，havingcollectedvariouskekaubieswhichrequiredmending，inplaceofthosewhichIleftbehind-thosewhichIhadbeenemployeduponduringthelastfewdays。Ifoundallquietinthelaneorglade，and，unharnessingmylittlehorse，Ioncemorepitchedmytentintheoldspotbeneaththeash，lightedmyfire，atemyfrugalmeal，andthen，afterlookingforsometimeattheheavenlybodies，andmoreparticularlyatthestarJupiter，Ienteredmytent，laydownuponmypallet，andwenttosleep。

Nothingoccurredonthefollowingdaywhichrequiresanyparticularnotice，norindeedontheonesucceedingthat。ItwasaboutnoononthethirddaythatIsatbeneaththeshadeoftheashtree；I

wasnotatwork，fortheweatherwasparticularlyhot，andIfeltbutlittleinclinationtomakeanyexertion。Leaningmybackagainstthetree，Iwasnotlonginfallingintoaslumber；I

particularlyrememberthatslumberofminebeneaththeashtree，foritwasaboutthesweetestslumberthatIeverenjoyed；howlongIcontinuedinitIdonotknow；Icouldalmosthavewishedthatithadlastedtothepresenttime。Allofasuddenitappearedtomethatavoicecriedinmyear，’Danger!danger!danger!’NothingseeminglycouldbemoredistinctthanthewordswhichIheard；thenanuneasysensationcameoverme，whichIstrovetogetridof，andatlastsucceeded，forIawoke。Thegypsygirlwasstandingjustoppositetome，withhereyesfixeduponmycountenance；asingularkindoflittledogstoodbesideher。

’Ha!’saidI，’wasityouthatcrieddanger？Whatdangeristhere？’

’Danger，brother，thereisnodanger；whatdangershouldtherebe？

Icalledtomylittledog，butthatwasinthewood；mylittledog’snameisnotdanger，butStranger；whatdangershouldtherebe，brother？’

’What，indeed，exceptinsleepingbeneathatree；whatisthatyouhavegotinyourhand？’

’Somethingforyou，’saidthegirl，sittingdownandproceedingtountieawhitenapkin；’aprettymanricli，sosweet，sonice；whenI

wenthometomypeopleItoldmygrand-bebeehowkindyouhadbeentothepoorperson’schild，andwhenmygrand-bebeesawthekekaubi，shesaid，“Hirmidevlis，itwon’tdoforthepoorpeopletobeungrateful；bymyGod，Iwillbakeacakefortheyoungharkomescro。“’

’Buttherearetwocakes。’

’Yes，brother，twocakes，bothforyou；mygrandbebeemeantthembothforyou-butlist，brother，Iwillhaveoneofthemforbringingthem。Iknowyouwillgivemeone，pretty