little gnomes
went to see the wounded deer and they washed the wound the arrow had
made and bound it up for her.

Then the three little gnomes sat upon Fuzzy Fox's back and he ran on
through the forest with them until they came to a wild boar.

The wild boar had been crippled by the huntsmen, he told the three
little gnomes, but had managed to hide himself in the thick bushes and
escape. "It must have been the little boy's father and his men," said
the wild boar. "I am sorry that I am wounded for I would like to help
him!"

Then Fuzzy Fox ran with the three little gnomes through the forest and
they met a wounded bear, and a wounded squirrel, and five or six wounded
bunny rabbits, and they all told the three little gnomes that the
huntsmen had shot them with arrows and that they just managed to escape.

[Illustration]

The three little gnomes felt very sorry for their wounded friends and
helped them all they could by washing their wounds and tying them up.
"We are sorry that we can not go with you and help find the little boy's
home," they all said, "For his mother will miss him and cry for him. And
we know how much a Mamma or a Daddy can miss a little boy or girl, for
we have all grieved for our own little ones that the huntsmen who roam
this forest have killed. That is why we feel sorry that we can not help
you bring him back to his mother."

So Fuzzy Fox ran until he came to the edge of the forest and then the
three little gnomes saw a large castle away in the distance with bright
red roofs on the tall towers.

"That must be the little boy's home!" said one little gnome.

"Let us return at once to our home under the fallen tree and ask the
little boy!" said another. So Fuzzy Fox ran with them back to their home
and the little boy told them it was his home.

Then the kind Fuzzy Fox took the three little gnomes and the little boy
upon his back and ran to the edge of the forest and on the way they
stopped to see the wounded animals, and they were all glad that the
little boy's Mamma and Daddy would soon see him. "Oh, if we could only
see the children who have been taken away from us by the huntsmen!" they
said as they bade the little boy goodbye.

So Fuzzy Fox carried the three little gnomes and the little boy almost
to the castle gate and shook hands with him.

"I will remember the way to your home," the boy told the three little
gnomes, "and I will be back to see you soon!"

The next day when the three