ill be dead and buried, while she is still a
beautiful child."

And then, to comfort the boy, the peddler told him wonderful stories
of the riches and splendour of the Hill-people, how that sometimes
they had been seen dancing at night on the mounds, and how they wore
green caps, which, if any mortal man could get possession of, the
dwarfs were obliged to serve him and obey him in everything. All this
Arndt drank in with eager ears; and when the peddler went away he sat
a long time thinking.

"I will do it," at last he said aloud. "I will try to get my dear
Reutha safe back again."

And the boy stole noiselessly to the mound which the Hill-men were
supposed to inhabit. He hid himself among the surrounding bushes, and
there he lay in the silence and darkness, his young heart beating
wildly, and only stilled by one thought that lay ever there, that of
the lost Reutha. At last a sudden brightness flashed upon the boy's
eyes; it could not be the moon, for she had long set. No; but it was a
sight more glorious than Arndt had ever dreamed of.

The grassy hill opened, and through this aperture the boy saw a palace
underground, glittering with gold and gems. The Hill-men danced about
within it, dressed like tiny men and women. Arndt thought how
beautiful they were, though they seemed no bigger than his own baby
sister of six months old. One by one they rose out of the opening, and
gambolled on the snow-covered mound; but wherever they trod flowers
sprang up, and the air grew light and warm as summer. After a while
they ceased dancing and began ball-playing, tossing their little green
caps about in great glee. And lo and behold! one of these wonderful
caps, being tossed farther than usual, lighted on the very forehead of
the peeping boy!

In a moment he snatched it and held it fast, with a cry of triumph.
The light faded--the scene vanished--only Arndt heard a small weak
voice whispering, humbly and beseechingly in his ear.

"Please, noble gentleman, give me my cap again."

"No, no, good Hill-man," answered the courageous boy; "you have got
my little sister, and I have got your cap, which I shall keep."

"I will give you a better cap for it--all gold and jewels--oh, so
beautiful!" said the Hill-man, persuasively.

"I will not have it. What good would it do me? No, no, I am your
master, good dwarf, as you very well know, and I command you to take
me down in the hill with you, for I want to see Reutha."

There shone a