had eaten his
fill.

The second wish it was far more difficult to accomplish;
nevertheless Harlequin found ways and means to counsel in this case
likewise. The contents of the waggon, which lay scattered about,
contained people and soldiers enough; he had only to open the
boxes, and bring to life all the thousands of puppets which were
shut up in them; but unluckily the lids of the boxes were fastened
down so tight, that the united strength of the two little men was
unable to force them open. They toiled and moiled till they were
quite exhausted, but all in vain. In this perplexity a word of
advice was worth something. Nutcracker's big blue eyes started out
of his head from the mere effort of considering and contriving,
till they looked like those of a crayfish; Harlequin, on the
contrary, never lost heart or ceased his merriment for an instant.
He twirled round and round like a top, looking for help on all
sides; and before he himself thought of it, indeed an unexpected
aid came in a marvellous way.

Afar off the brown fields which bordered the forest-glen appeared
all at once to become alive. An immense host of migrating Rats, on
their journey from the South to the North, were advancing this way,
and by chance fell directly upon the scattered heap of boxes.

"Out of the way, my Prince!" cried Harlequin, "if we would not let
ourselves be devoured like hazelnuts."

They both sprang on one side. The Rats, which, as every one knows,
never turn out of their road, but always go straight forward,
through field and wood, over hedge and ditch, gnawing their way
through stick and stone, fell without ado upon the chests and
boxes. The fresh young pine-wood boards were a welcome prize to
their sharp teeth, and so too the strong hempen ropes. Speedily off
fell the box-lids, one here, one there,--crack went a rope on this
side, another on that! The most splendid toys presently lay
scattered about in confusion on the road, and some of the Rats fell
to gratifying their nibbling propensity upon them. When Harlequin
beheld this, he cried aloud to the Rats, "A good appetite to you,
ye board-eaters! have you enough?" And so saying he jumped into the
brook, and flung his legs and arms about him, till the water
splashed over all the other little Nutcrackers, Harlequins, and tin
and wooden soldiers, who instantly became alive and jumped upon
their legs.

"Follow me!" cried Harlequin: "one fool makes many,--one wise man
many wise!"