to-night, travel on alone, in God's
name; for I can't go any farther with you, now that my hours of service
have expired."

"But, my good Hans, my dear fellow," said the parson, "I really can't
leave you here all alone by yourself. Don't you see the gallows close
by, with two evil-doers hanging on it, whose souls are now burning in
hell? Surely you wouldn't venture to pass the night in the neighbourhood
of such company?"

"Why not?" said Hans. "These gallows-birds are hanging up in the air,
and I shall sleep on the ground below, so we can't interfere with each
other." As he spoke he turned his back to his master and went off with
his provision-bag.

If the parson would not miss the christening, it was necessary for him
to go to town alone. The people were much astonished to see him arrive
without a coachman; but when he had related his astonishing altercation
with Hans, they could not make up their minds whether the master or the
servant was the biggest fool of the two.

Hans cared nothing about what the people thought or said of him. He ate
his supper, lit himself a pipe to warm his nose, made himself a bed
under a great branching pine-tree, wrapped himself in his warm rug, and
went to sleep. He might have slept for some hours when he was roused by
a sudden noise. It was a bright moonlight night, and close by stood two
headless dwarfs under the pine-tree exchanging angry words. Hans raised
himself to look at them better, when they both cried out at once, "It is
he! it is he!" One of them drew nearer to Hans' sleeping place and said,
"Old friend, we have met again by a lucky chance. My bones still ache
from the steps in the church tower, and I dare say you haven't forgotten
the story. We'll deal with your bones now in such a fashion that you
won't forget our meeting for weeks. Hi! there, comrades; come on and set
to work!"

Upon this a crowd of the headless dwarfs rushed together from all sides
like a swarm of gnats. They were all armed with thick cudgels, bigger
than themselves. The number of these little enemies threatened danger,
for they struck as hard as any strong man could have done. Hans thought
his last hour was come, for he could not make any defence against such a
host of enemies. But by good luck another dwarf made his appearance,
just as the blows were falling fastest. "Stop, stop, comrades!" he
exclaimed. "This man has been my benefactor, and I owe him a debt of
gratitude. He gave me my life when I