h
ships. And if he blows at the wide end they shall all be sunk in the
waves.' So they vanished, without knowing that Ciccu had been awake and
heard all they said.

The next day, when they were all cutting wood, he said to his brothers,
'That old coverlet and the purse are no use to you; I wish you would
give them to me. I have a fancy for them, for the sake of old times.'
Now Peppe and Alfin were very fond of Ciccu, and never refused him
anything, so they let him have the coverlet and the purse without a
word. When he had got them safely Ciccu went on, 'Dear brothers, I
am tired of the forest. I want to live in the town, and work at some
trade.'

'O Ciccu! stay with us,' they cried. 'We are very happy here; and who
knows how we shall get on elsewhere?'

'We can always try,' answered Ciccu; 'and if times are bad we can come
back here and take up wood-cutting.' So saying he picked up his bundle
of sticks, and his brothers did the same.

But when they reached the town they found that the market was
overstocked with firewood, and they did not sell enough to buy
themselves a dinner, far less to get any food to carry home. They were
wondering sadly what they should do when Ciccu said, 'Come with me to
the inn and let us have something to eat.' They were so hungry by this
time that they did not care much whether they paid for it or not, so
they followed Ciccu, who gave his orders to the host. 'Bring us three
dishes, the nicest that you have, and a good bottle of wine.'

'Ciccu! Ciccu!' whispered his brothers, horrified at this extravagance,
'are you mad? How do you ever mean to pay for it?'

'Let me alone,' replied Ciccu; 'I know what I am about.' And when they
had finished their dinner Ciccu told the others to go on, and he would
wait to pay the bill.

The brothers hurried on, without needing to be told twice, 'for,'
thought they, 'he has no money, and of course there will be a row.'

When they were out of sight Ciccu asked the landlord how much he owed,
and then said to his purse, 'Dear purse, give me, I pray you, six
florins,' and instantly six florins were in the purse. Then he paid the
bill and joined his brothers.

'How did you manage?' they asked.

'Never you mind,' answered he. 'I have paid every penny,' and no more
would he say. But the other two were very uneasy, for they felt sure
something must be wrong, and the sooner they parted company with Ciccu
the better. Ciccu understood what they were thinki