one, fell to quarrelling and
fighting, until at last neither would speak to the other, and that
state of sulky silence they maintained all the time of their
captivity.

The months passed by, but no news came to Hans and his mother of Fritz
and Franz. Meanwhile Hans found that it became daily more difficult
for him to earn enough money to support two people. Moreover, he saw
that his mother was growing weaker, and he feared that she would die
unless she had proper food and nourishment. At last he said:

"Mother, if there were only some one to take care of you, I would go
in search of Fritz and Franz. You may be sure they have got the
sparkling golden water by this time. They would never refuse me a few
guldern, if I were to ask them and tell them how ill you are."

But Hans's mother did not at all like the idea of his leaving her, and
she begged and prayed him not to go. He felt obliged, therefore, to
submit, and stayed on for a little longer, until at last even his
mother saw that they must either starve or do as Hans suggested. Most
fortunately at this time there dropped in to see them another
charcoal-burner, whom Hans used to call "Uncle Stoltz," although he
was no uncle at all, but only a good-natured neighbour and an old
friend of Hans's father. Uncle Stoltz strongly urged the mother to let
her boy go in search of his brothers, adding, although he was nearly
as poor as they were themselves:

"You come and live with me and my wife. While we have a crust to
divide you shan't want."

So Hans's mother gave a reluctant consent, and went to live with Uncle
Stoltz, while Hans went out in search of his brothers. By making
inquiries he easily found the road which they had taken, but nobody
ever thought of shutting the door in his face. On the contrary, his
polite manners and cheerful looks made him a welcome guest at every
cottage and farmstead at which he stopped. At last he, too, found
himself on the verge of the forest of dead trees and face to face with
the golden-horned unicorn. But Hans was not to be frightened as his
brothers had been by the terrible voice and awe-striking appearance of
the guardian of the fountain. In reply to the usual question, given in
the usual tone of thunder: "What seek you here?" Hans replied, coolly,
"I seek my brothers, Fritz and Franz."

"They are where you will never find them," said the unicorn, "so go
home again."

"If I cannot find my brothers," said Hans, firmly, "I will not