asked the minister.

'Asleep,' said Hans.

'Asleep!' exclaimed the minister in astonishment. 'You don't mean to
tell me that you can go on sleeping till mid-day?'

'That is exactly what I do mean,' replied Hans. 'If one works in the
night one must sleep in the day, just as if one works in the day one
sleeps in the night. If you can find somebody else to ring the bells at
midnight I am ready to begin work at dawn; but if you want me to ring
them I must go on sleeping till noon at the very earliest.'

The minister tried to argue the point with him, but at length the
following agreement was come to. Hans was to give up the ringing, and
was to work like the rest from sunrise to sunset, with the exception of
an hour after breakfast and an hour after dinner, when he might go to
sleep. 'But, of course,' added the minister carelessly, 'it may happen
now and then, especially in winter, when the days are short, that you
will have to work a little longer, to get something finished.'

'Not at all!' answered Hans. 'Unless I were to leave off work earlier
in summer, I will not do a stroke more than I have promised, and that is
from dawn to dark; so you know what you have to expect.'

A few weeks later the minister was asked to attend a christening in the
neighbouring town. He bade Hans come with him, but, as the town was only
a few hours' ride from where he lived, the minister was much surprised
to see Hans come forth laden with a bag containing food.

'What are you taking that for?' asked the minister. 'We shall be there
before dark.'

'Who knows?' replied Hans. 'Many things may happen to delay our journey,
and I need not remind you of our contract that the moment the sun sets
I cease to be your servant. If we don't reach the town while it is still
daylight I shall leave you to shift for yourself.'

The minister thought he was joking, and made no further remark. But when
they had left the village behind them, and had ridden a few miles, they
found that snow had fallen during the night, and had been blown by the
wind into drifts. This hindered their progress, and by the time they had
entered the thick wood which lay between them and their destination
the sun was already touching the tops of the trees. The horses ploughed
their way slowly through the deep soft snow and as they went Hans kept
turning to look at the sun, which lay at their backs.

'Is there anything behind you?' asked the minister. 'Or what is it you
are alwa