ey came to the third brook the sister heard how in its
rushing it said,

"Who drinks of me a fawn will be,
He a fawn will be who drinks of me!"

Then the sister said,

"O my brother, I pray drink not, or you will be turned into a fawn, and
run away far from me."

But he had already kneeled by the side of the brook and stooped and
drunk of the water, and as the first drops passed his lips he became a
fawn.

And the sister wept over her poor lost brother, and the fawn wept also,
and stayed sadly beside her. At last the maiden said,

"Be comforted, dear fawn, indeed I will never leave you."

Then she untied her golden girdle and bound it round the fawn's neck,
and went and gathered rushes to make a soft cord, which she fastened to
him; and then she led him on, and they went deeper into the forest. And
when they had gone a long long way, they came at last to a little
house, and the maiden looked inside, and as it was empty she thought,

"We might as well live here."

And she fetched leaves and moss to make a soft bed for the fawn, and
every morning she went out and gathered roots and berries and nuts for
herself, and fresh grass for the fawn, who ate out of her hand with joy,
frolicking round her. At night, when the sister was tired, and had said
her prayers, she laid her head on the fawn's back, which served her for
a pillow, and softly fell asleep. And if only the brother could have got
back his own shape again, it would have been a charming life. So they
lived a long while in the wilderness alone.

Now it happened that the King of that country held a great hunt in the
forest. The blowing of the horns, the barking of the dogs, and the lusty
shouts of the huntsmen sounded through the wood, and the fawn heard them
and was eager to be among them.

"Oh," said he to his sister, "do let me go to the hunt; I cannot stay
behind any longer," and begged so long that at last she consented.

"But mind," said she to him, "come back to me at night. I must lock my
door against the wild hunters, so, in order that I may know you, you
must knock and say, 'Little sister, let me in,' and unless I hear that I
shall not unlock the door."

Then the fawn sprang out, and felt glad and merry in the open air. The
King and his huntsmen saw the beautiful animal, and began at once to
pursue him, but they could not come within reach of him, for when they
thought they were certain of him he sprang away over the bushes and
disapp