d it was very difficult to get to sleep, Andras had
spent many hours in the study of magic, and this stood him in good stead
now. The instant he heard the Stalo music he wished himself to become
the feet of a reindeer, and in this guise he galloped like the wind
for several miles. Then he stopped to take breath and find out what his
enemy was doing. Nothing he could see, but to his ears the notes of a
pipe floated over the plain, and ever, as he listened, it drew nearer.

A cold shiver shook Andras, and this time he wished himself the feet of
a reindeer calf. For when a reindeer calf has reached the age at which
he begins first to lose his hair he is so swift that neither beast nor
bird can come near him. A reindeer calf is the swiftest of all things
living. Yes; but not so swift as a Stalo, as Andras found out when he
stopped to rest, and heard the pipe playing!

For a moment his heart sank, and he gave himself up for dead, till he
remembered that, not far off, were two little lakes joined together by
a short though very broad river. In the middle of the river lay a stone
that was always covered by water, except in dry seasons, and as the
winter rains had been very heavy, he felt quite sure that not even the
top of it could be seen. The next minute, if anyone had been looking
that way, he would have beheld a small reindeer calf speeding
northwards, and by-and-by giving a great spring, which landed him in the
midst of the stream. But, instead of sinking to the bottom, he paused a
second to steady himself, then gave a second spring which landed him on
the further shore. He next ran on to a little hill where he saw down
and began to neigh loudly, so that the Stalo might know exactly where he
was.

'Ah! There you are,' cried the Stalo, appearing on the opposite bank;
'for a moment I really thought I had lost you.'

'No such luck,' answered Andras, shaking his head sorrowfully. By this
time he had taken his own shape again.

'Well, but I don't see how I am to get to you,' said the Stalo, looking
up and down.

'Jump over, as I did,' answered Andras; 'it is quite easy.'

'But I could not jump this river; and I don't know how you did,' replied
the Stalo.

'I should be ashamed to say such things,' exclaimed Andras. 'Do you mean
to tell me that a jump, which the weakest Lapp boy would make nothing
of, is beyond your strength?'

The Stalo grew red and angry when he heard these words, just as Andras
meant him to do. He