he sea-mouse, who will serve him as a guide, so that he will
never go wrong; and to the doves, that when they alight on the column
of wealth, they will return to their former state."

So saying, Time set out to run his accustomed post; and Cianna, taking
leave of the old woman, descended to the foot of the mountain, just at
the very time that the seven doves, who had followed their sister's
footsteps, arrived there. Wearied with flying so far, they stopped to
rest upon the horn of a dead ox; and no sooner had they alighted than
they were changed into handsome youths as they were at first. But while
they were marvelling at this, they heard the reply which Time had
given, and saw at once that the horn, as the symbol of plenty, was the
column of wealth of which Time had spoken. Then embracing their sister
with great joy, they all set out on the same road by which Cianna had
come. And when they came to the oak-tree, and told it what Cianna had
heard from Time, the tree begged them to take away the treasure from
its roots, since it was the cause why its acorns had lost their
reputation. Thereupon the seven brothers, taking a spade which they
found in a garden, dug and dug, until they came to a great heap of gold
money, which they divided into eight parts and shared among themselves
and their sister, so that they might carry it away conveniently. But
being wearied with the journey and the load, they laid themselves down
to sleep under a hedge. Presently a band of robbers coming by, and
seeing the poor fellows asleep, with their heads upon the clothfuls of
money, bound them hand and foot to some trees and took away their
money, leaving them to bewail not only their wealth--which had slipped
through their fingers as soon as found--but their life; for being
without hope of succour, they were in peril of either soon dying of
hunger or allaying the hunger of some wild beast.

As they were lamenting their unhappy lot, up came the mouse, who, as
soon as she heard the reply which Time had given, in return for the
good service, nibbled the cords with which they were bound and set them
free. And having gone a little way farther, they met on the road the
ant, who, when she heard the advice of Time, asked Cianna what was the
matter that she was so pale-faced and cast down. And when Cianna told
her their misfortune, and the trick which the robbers had played them,
the ant replied, "Be quiet, I can now requite the kindness you have
done m