Карлик-нос

           Thesentrydidsoandpermissionwasgiven,forthegardenhadsuchhighwallssurroundingitthatitseemedimpossibleforhimtoescape.AssoonashewasintheopenheplacedMimicarefullyonthegroundandsheatoncebegantoruntowardsthelakeonthebanksofwhichthechestnuttreesgrew.Long-Nosefollowedherwithasinkingheart,forhehadalreadymadeuphismindthat,iftheherbcouldnotbefound,hewoulddrownhimselfinthelakeratherthanallowhisheadtobecutoff.Thegoosesoughtinvainfortheherb,sheleftnotabladeofgrassunturned,andatlengthshebegantocryfromsympathy.Shewouldnotgiveupthesearchuntileveningbegantofall,andthedarknessmadeitdifficulttodistinguishanysurroundingobjects.

           Justastheywereabouttoabandonthesearchthedwarflookedacrossthelakeandthencriedout:"Look,attheothersideofthelakeisahugeoldchestnuttree.Letusgoandsearchthere,perhapsgoodfortunebloomsyonder."Thegoosewaddledandflewandwaddledandflew,thedwarfhurryingafterherasfastashislittlelegswouldlethim,untilatlengththeyhadreachedtheothersideofthelake.Thechestnuttreecastavastshadeanditwassodarkallaroundthatitwasdifficulttodistinguishanything,butsuddenlythegoosegaveacryofjoyandflappedherwingswithdelight.ShethrustherheadintothelonggrassandpluckedsomethingwhichshedeftlyofferedinherbilltoLong-Nose.

           "Thisistheherb,"saidshe,"anditgrowshereinsuchquantitiesyouwillalwayshaveaplentifulsupply."