re came two ravens flying, and lit upon the
cross-beam overhead. There they began talking to one another, and the
servant popped the pebble into his mouth to hear what they might say.

"Yonder is a traveller in the world," said the first raven.

"Yes," said the second, "and if he only knew how to set about it, his
fortune is as good as made."

"How is that so?" said the first raven.

"Why, thus," said the second. "If he only knew enough to follow yonder
road over the hill, he would come by-and-by to a stone cross where two
roads meet, and there he would find a man sitting. If he would ask it of
him, that man would lead him to the garden where the fruit of happiness
grows."

"The fruit of happiness!" said the first raven, "and of what use would
the fruit of happiness be to him?"

"What use? I tell you, friend, there is no fruit in the world like that,
for one has only to hold it in one's hand and wish, and whatever one
asks for one shall have."

You may guess that when the servant understood the talk of the ravens he
was not slow in making use of what he heard. Up he scrambled, and away
he went as fast as his legs could carry him. On and on he travelled,
until he came to the cross-roads and the stone cross of which the raven
spoke, and there, sure enough, sat the traveller. He was clad in a
weather-stained coat, and he wore dusty boots, and the servant bade him
good-morning.

How should the servant know that it was an angel whom he beheld, and not
a common wayfarer?

"Whither away, comrade," asked the traveller.

"Out in the world," said the servant, "to seek my fortune. And what I
want to know is this--will you guide me to where I can find the fruit of
happiness?"

"You ask a great thing of me," said the other; "nevertheless, since you
do ask it, it is not for me to refuse, though I may tell you that many
a man has sought for that fruit, and few indeed have found it. But if
I guide you to the garden where the fruit grows, there is one condition
you must fulfil: many strange things will happen upon our journey
between here and there, but concerning all you see you must ask not a
question and say not a word. Do you agree to that?"

"Yes," said the servant, "I do."

"Very well," said his new comrade; "then let us be jogging, for I have
business in the town to-night, and the time is none too long to get
there."

So all the rest of that day they journeyed onward together, until,
towards evening, they came