d
uneasily from one foot to the other, saying, imploringly: 'It is
getting rather warm, old man.' But all the answer he got was: 'I
thought you would never be able to suffer pain like those little
birds.'

The bear did not like being told that he was not as brave as a bird,
so he set his teeth and resolved to endure anything sooner than speak
again; but by this time the last willow band had burned through, and
with a push the fox sent his victim tumbling into the grass, and ran
off to hide himself in the forest. After a while he stole cautiously
and found, as he expected, nothing left but a few charred bones. These
he picked up and put in a bag, which he slung over his back.

By-and-by he met a Lapp driving his team of reindeer along the road,
and as he drew near, the fox rattled the bones gaily.

'That sounds like silver or gold,' thought the man to himself. And he
said politely to the fox:

'Good-day, friend! What have you got in your bag that makes such a
strange sound?'

'All the wealth my father left me,' answered the fox. 'Do you feel
inclined to bargain?'

'Well, I don't mind,' replied the Lapp, who was a prudent man, and did
not wish the fox to think him too eager; 'but show me first what money
you have got.'

'Ah, but I can't do that,' answered the fox, 'my bag is sealed up. But
if you will give me those three reindeer, you shall take it as it is,
with all its contents.'

The Lapp did not quite like it, but the fox spoke with such an air
that his doubts melted away. He nodded, and stretched out his hand;
the fox put the bag into it, and unharnessed the reindeer he had
chosen.

'Oh, I forgot!' he exclaimed, turning round, as he was about to drive
them in the opposite direction, 'you must be sure not to open the bag
until you have gone at least five miles, right on the other side of
those hills out there. If you do, you will find that all the gold and
silver has changed into a parcel of charred bones.' Then he whipped up
his reindeer, and was soon out of sight.

For some time the Lapp was satisfied with hearing the bones rattle,
and thinking to himself what a good bargain he had made, and of all
the things he would buy with the money. But, after a bit, this
amusement ceased to content him, and besides, what was the use of
planning when you did not know for certain how rich you were? Perhaps
there might be a great deal of silver and only a little gold in the
bag; or a great deal of gold, and only a