kindled in the courtyard, and she was to be burned
in it; and the King stood above at the window, and watched it all with
weeping eyes, for he had held her very dear. And when she was already
fast bound to the stake, and the fire was licking her garments with red
tongues, the last moment of the seven years came to an end. Then a
rushing sound was heard in the air, and twelve ravens came flying and
sank downwards; and as they touched the earth they became her twelve
brothers that she had lost. They rushed through the fire and quenched
the flames, and set their dear sister free, kissing and consoling her.
And now that her mouth was opened, and that she might venture to speak,
she told the King the reason of her dumbness, and why she had never
laughed. The King rejoiced when he heard of her innocence, and they all
lived together in happiness until their death.

But the wicked mother-in-law was very unhappy, and died miserably.

THE VAGABONDS

THE cock said to the hen,

"It is nutting time, let us go together to the mountains and have a good
feast for once, before the squirrels come and carry all away."

"Yes," answered the hen, "come along; we will have a jolly time
together."

Then they set off together to the mountains, and as it was a fine day
they stayed there till the evening. Now whether it was that they had
eaten so much, or because of their pride and haughtiness, I do not know,
but they would not go home on foot; so the cock set to work to make a
little carriage out of nutshells. When it was ready, the hen seated
herself in it, and said to the cock,

"Now you can harness yourself to it."

"That's all very fine," said the cock, "I would sooner go home on foot
than do such a thing: and I never agreed to it. I don't mind being
coachman, and sitting on the box; but as to drawing it myself, it's
quite out of the question."

As they were wrangling, a duck came quacking,

"You thieving vagabonds, who told you you might go to my mountain? Look
out, or it will be the worse for you!" and flew at the cock with bill
wide open. But the cock was not backward, and he gave the duck a good
dig in the body, and hacked at her with his spurs so valiantly that she
begged for mercy, and willingly allowed herself to be harnessed to the
carriage. Then the cock seated himself on the box and was coachman; so
off they went at a great pace, the cock crying out "Run, duck, as fast
as you can!"

When they had gone a part