e continued aloud, as he had been taught by the fairy,--"Ax! ax!
chop! chop! and work for my profit!"

Thereupon the ax suddenly leapt from his hands, and began to chop with
great skill and swiftness. Having soon cut down, trimmed and rolled a
hundred trees together, it returned, and placed itself in the hands of
Ranier.

The wood-chopper was very much delighted with all this, and sat there
pleasantly reflecting upon his good fortune in possessing so useful a
servant, when the ranger of the forest came along. The latter, who was a
great lord, was much surprised when he saw the trees lying there.

"How is this?" asked the ranger, whose name was Woodmount. "At this time
yesterday these trees were standing. How did you contrive to fell them
so soon?"

"I had assistance, my lord," replied Ranier; but he said nothing about
the magic ax.

Lord Woodmount hereupon entered into conversation with Ranier, and
finding him to be intelligent and prompt in his replies, was much
pleased with him. At last he said:

"We have had much difficulty in getting ready the timber for the king's
new palace, in consequence of the scarcity of wood-cutters, and the
slowness with which they work. There are over twenty thousand trees yet
to be cut and hewn, and for every tree fully finished the king allows a
noble of fifty groats, although he allows but a groat for the felling
alone. It is necessary that they should be all ready within a month,
though I fear that is impossible. As you seem to be able to get a number
of laborers together, I will allot you a thousand trees, if you choose,
should you undertake to have them all ready to be hauled away for the
builders' use, within a month's time."

"My lord," answered Ranier, "I will undertake to have the whole twenty
thousand ready before the time set."

"Do you know what you say?" inquired the ranger, astonished at the bold
proposal.

"Perfectly, my lord," was the reply. "Let me undertake the work on
condition that you will cause the forest to be guarded, and no one to
enter save they have my written permission. Before the end of the month
the trees will be ready."

[Illustration: FELLING THE TREES.]

"Well," said Lord Woodmount, "it is a risk for me to run; but from what
you have done already, it is possible you may obtain enough woodmen to
complete your task. Yet, beware! If you succeed, I will not only give
you twenty thousand nobles of gold, but also appoint you--if you can
write, as