in a cheerful tone. "Could you
provide me with a cup of water and a mouthful of something to eat? I
have forgotten to bring anything with me, and am ravenously hungry,
and far from home."

Fritz and Franz first threw a scowling glance from under their
eyebrows at the stranger by way of reply, then gave a grunt, and
continued munching at their hunks of bread. Hans, however, was more
polite. The only seats in the hut were occupied by Fritz and Franz,
and as they showed no disposition to move, Hans dragged a log of wood
from a corner and placed it before the visitor, and invited him to sit
down. Then he produced a cup, scrupulously clean indeed, but sadly
cracked and chipped, and, running outside, he filled it from a spring
of delicious, cool water, which rose near the hut. As he had been busy
talking to his mother, he had had no time to eat his share of the
black bread, and so he handed his coarse crust to the stranger, saying
he was sorry that there was nothing better to offer him.

"Thank you," said the stranger, courteously. "Hunger is the best
sauce. There is no lunch I like so well as this." And he set to work
with such a good will that, in a very short time, poor Hans's crust
had vanished, and there was nothing left before the stranger but a few
crumbs of bread on the table, and a few drops of water in the cup.
These he kneaded carelessly together into a little pellet, about the
size of a pea, while Hans told him, in answer to his questions, all
about their lonely life in the forest, and the hardships which they
had to endure.

When the stranger rose to go he said, "Well, I thank you heartily for
your hospitality--now I will give you a word of advice. One of you
lads should go and seek the sparkling golden water, which turns
everything it touches into gold."

Fritz and Franz pricked up their ears at this, and both at once
demanded where this sparkling golden water was to be found. The
stranger turned toward them, courteously, although these were the
first words they had spoken since his entrance, and replied:

"The sparkling golden water is to be found in the forest of dead
trees, on the farther side of those blue mountains, which you may see
on any clear day in the far distance. It is a three weeks' journey on
foot from here."

Then, bowing to his hosts, he stepped toward the door. Hans, however,
was there first, and opened it for him. Obeying a sign from the
stranger, Hans followed him a little way from th