er us, and if you don't hide us in
your hay-loft, we shall be taken and led off to prison."

_The Hemp-dresser_: "And who will prove you are what you say you
are, this time? For you have told us one lie already that you can't
maintain."

_The Grave-digger_: "If you will let us in, we shall show you a pretty
piece of game we have killed."

_The Hemp-dresser_: "Show it right away, for we have our suspicions."

_The Grave-digger_: "All right, open the door or a window to let us pass
the creature in."

_The Hemp-dresser_: "Oh, no, not quite so foolish. I am looking at you
through a little chink, and I can see neither hunters nor game amongst
you."

Here an ox-driver, a thick-set fellow of herculean strength, detached
himself from a group where he had stood unperceived, and raised toward
the window a plucked goose, spitted on a strong iron bar decorated with
tufts of straw and ribbons.

"Ho, ho!" cried the hemp-dresser, after cautiously extending an arm to
feel the roast. "That is n't a quail nor a partridge; it is n't a hare
nor a rabbit; it 's something like a goose or a turkey. Upon my word,
you 're clever hunters, and that game did n't make you run very far.
Move on, you rogues; we know all your lies, and you had best go home and
cook your supper. You are not going to eat ours."

_The Grave-digger_: "O Heavens, where can we go to cook our game? It is
very little for so many as we, and, besides, we have neither place nor
fire. At this time every door is closed, and every soul asleep. You are
the only people who are celebrating a wedding at home, and you must he
hardhearted indeed to let us freeze outside. Once again, good people,
open the door; we shall not cost you anything. You can see that we bring
our own meat; only a little room at your hearth, a little blaze to cook
with, and we shall go on our way rejoicing."

_The Hemp-dresser_: "Do you suppose that we have too much room here, and
that wood is bought tor nothing?"

_The Grave-digger_: "We have here a small bundle of hay to make the
fire. We shall be satisfied with that; only grant us leave to place the
spit across your fireplace."

_The Hemp-dresser_: "That will never do. We are disgusted, and don't
pity you at all. It is my opinion that you are drunk, that you need
nothing, and that you only wish to come in and steal away our fire and
our daughters."

_The Grave-digger_: "Since you won't listen to reason, we shall make our
way in by force."

_Th