stream, I'd go and have a drink. I do believe I hear one.' He jumped up,
took sister by the hand, and they set off to hunt for the brook.

Now their cruel stepmother was in reality a witch, and she knew
perfectly well that the two children had run away. She had crept
secretly after them, and had cast her spells over all the streams in the
forest.

Presently the children found a little brook dancing and glittering over
the stones, and brother was eager to drink of it, but as it rushed past
sister heard it murmuring:

'Who drinks of me will be a tiger! who drinks of me will be a tiger!'

So she cried out, 'Oh! dear brother, pray don't drink, or you'll be
turned into a wild beast and tear me to pieces.'

Brother was dreadfully thirsty, but he did not drink.

'Very well,' said he, 'I'll wait till we come to the next spring.'

When they came to the second brook, sister heard it repeating too:

'Who drinks of me will be a wolf I who drinks of me will be a wolf!'

And she cried, 'Oh! brother, pray don't drink here either, or you'll be
turned into a wolf and eat me up.'

Again brother did not drink, but he said:

'Well, I'll wait a little longer till we reach the next stream, but
then, whatever you may say, I really must drink, for I can bear this
thirst no longer.'

And when they got to the third brook, sister heard it say as it rushed
past:

'Who drinks of me will be a roe! who drinks of me will be a roe!'

And she begged, 'Ah! brother, don't drink yet, or you'll become a roe
and run away from me.'

But her brother was already kneeling by the brook and bending over it to
drink, and, sure enough, no sooner had his lips touched the water than
he fell on the grass transformed into a little Roebuck.

Sister cried bitterly over her poor bewitched brother, and the little
Roe wept too, and sat sadly by her side. At last the girl said:

'Never mind, dear little fawn, I will never forsake you,' and she took
off her golden garter and tied it round the Roe's neck.

Then she plucked rushes and plaited a soft cord of them, which she
fastened to the collar. When she had done this she led the Roe farther
and farther, right into the depths of the forest.

After they had gone a long, long way they came to a little house, and
when the girl looked into it she found it was quite empty, and she
thought 'perhaps we might stay and live here.'

So she hunted up leaves and moss to make a soft bed for the little Roe,
and ever