branches trembled.

Jean tried to remember the words that would turn the man back into a
bull again, but he was so frightened he could not think of them. What
he did remember, though, were the eggs the black man had given him. He
took one out of his mouth and dropped it down on the bull-man's right
shoulder, and at once his right arm fell off, and the ax dropped to
the ground. This did not trouble the bull-man, however. He caught up
the ax in his left hand and chopped away, Gip, gop! Gip, gop! The
chips flew faster than ever.

Then Jean Malin dropped the second egg down on the man's left
shoulder, and his left arm fell off. Now he had no arms, but he caught
up the ax in his mouth and went on chopping, Gip, gop! Gip, gop! The
whole tree shook and trembled.

Then Jean Malin dropped the third and last egg down on the man's head,
and at once his head fell off.

That ended the man's magic; he could do nothing more, and had to turn
into a bull again. He bellowed like anything, but he could not help
it, for the black man's magic was stronger than his magic. Away he
galloped, with his tail in the air, and that was the last Jean Malin
ever saw of him. What became of him nobody ever knew, but he must have
gone far, far away.

But Jean Malin climbed down from the tree and went on home, and after
that he lived very happily in the lady's house and was like a son to
her, just as she had promised him.

THE WIDOW'S SON

A SCANDINAVIAN TALE

Once upon a time there was a poor widow who had only one son, and he
was so dear to her that no one could have been dearer. All the same
she was obliged to send him out into the world to seek his fortune,
for they were so very poor that as long as he stayed at home they were
like to starve.

The lad kissed her good-by, and she gave him her blessing, and then
off he set, always putting one foot before the other.

He journeyed on a short way and a long way, and then he came to a dark
and gloomy wood. He had not gone far into it when he met a tall man as
dark and gloomy as the wood itself. The man stopped the lad and said
to him, "Are you seeking work or shunning work?"

"I am seeking work," answered the widow's son.

"Then come with me, and I will give you enough to do but not too
much," said the man, "and the wages will be according."

That suited the lad. He was quite willing to work for the tall
stranger. They set out and