oaning and
complaining by the roadside that he stopped his horse to see what the
matter was; and--do you believe it?--it was the ant people whose
ant-hill stood in the way, right where Hans was about to ride.

"See, see!" they cried, running to and fro in great alarm. "This giant
of a man on his terrible horse will ride over our new house and crush
us to death."

"Not I," said Hans. "If so much as one of you gets under my horse's
hoofs it will be your fault and not mine;" and getting down from his
horse he led him around the ant-hill and into the road on the other
side.

"One good turn deserves another," cried the ant people running to and
fro in great joy. "You have helped us, and we will help you some day;"
and they were still saying this when Hans mounted his horse and rode
away.

Now before long Hans came to a great forest and as he rode under the
spreading branches of the trees he heard a cry for help in the woods.

"What can this be?" said Hans; but the very next minute he saw two
young birds lying beneath a tree, beating their wings upon the ground
and crying aloud:

"Alas! Alas! Who will put us into the nest again?"

"I, the king's servant and my mother's son; I will put you into the
nest again," said Hans, and he was as good as his word.

"One good turn deserves another," called the birds when they were safe
in their nest once more. "You have helped us, and we will help you
some day."

Hans laughed to hear them, for though it was easy for him to help them
he could not think what they might do for him.

Trot, trot, and gallop, gallop he rode through the forest till he came
to a stream of water beside which lay three panting fishes.

"We shall surely die unless we can get into the water," they cried.

Their breath was almost gone and their voices were no louder than the
faintest whisper, but Hans understood every word that they said; and
he jumped from his horse and threw them into the stream.

"One good turn deserves another," they cried as they swam merrily
away. "You have helped us, and we will help you some day."

Now it so happened that Hans came by and by to the land of a very
wicked king who broke his promises as easily as if they were made of
spun glass and who never thought of anybody but himself.

No sooner had Hans come into the land than the king stopped him and
would not let him go on.

"No one shall pass through my kingdom," he said, "till he has done one
piece of work for me."