rchief down over their shoulder, and in a moment a deep,
broad river flowed behind them.

When the witch came up to it, it took her a long time before she found a
place which she could ford over on her broom-stick; but at last she got
across, and continued the chase faster than before. And as the children
ran they heard a sound, and the little sister put her ear to the ground,
and heard the broom sweeping the earth close behind them; so, quick as
thought, she threw the comb down on the ground, and in an instant,
as the cat had said, a dense forest sprung up, in which the roots and
branches were so closely intertwined, that it was impossible to force a
way through it. So when the witch came up to it on her broom she found
that there was nothing for it but to turn round and go back to her hut.

But the twins ran straight on till they reached their own home. Then
they told their father all that they had suffered, and he was so angry
with their step-mother that he drove her out of the house, and never let
her return; but he and the children lived happily together; and he took
care of them himself, and never let a stranger come near them.

THE HAZEL-NUT CHILD (29)

(29) From the Bukowniaer. Van Wliolocki.

There was once upon a time a couple who had no children, and they prayed
Heaven every day to send them a child, though it were no bigger than
a hazel-nut. At last Heaven heard their prayer and sent them a child
exactly the size of a hazel-nut, and it never grew an inch. The parents
were very devoted to the little creature, and nursed and tended it
carefully. Their tiny son too was as clever as he could be, and so sharp
and sensible that all the neighbours marvelled over the wise things he
said and did.

When the Hazel-nut child was fifteen years old, and was sitting one day
in an egg-shell on the table beside his mother, she turned to him and
said, 'You are now fifteen years old, and nothing can be done with you.
What do you intend to be?'

'A messenger,' answered the Hazel-nut child.

Then his mother burst out laughing and said, 'What an idea! You a
messenger! Why, your little feet would take an hour to go the distance
an ordinary person could do in a minute!'

But the Hazel-nut child replied, 'Nevertheless I mean to be a messenger!
Just send me a message and you'll see that I shall be back in next to no
time.'

So his mother said, 'Very well, go to your aunt in the neighbouring
village, and fetch me a c