sweetest music. That
goat I must have! But, tell me, how am I to get it? I would give the
third part of my kingdom to anyone who would bring it to me.'

'I will fetch it myself,' answered Pinkel.

This time it was easier for Pinkel to approach the island unseen, as
there was no golden lantern to thrown its beams over the water. But, on
the other hand, the goat slept inside the hut, and would therefore have
to be taken from under the very eyes of the old woman. How was he to do
it? All the way across the lake he thought and thought, till at length
a plan came into his head which seemed as if it might do, though he knew
it would be very difficult to carry out.

The first thing he did when he reached the shore was to look about for a
piece of wood, and when he had found it he hid himself close to the
hut, till it grew quite dark and near the hour when the witch and her
daughter went to bed. Then he crept up and fixed the wood under the
door, which opened outwards, in such a manner that the more you tried
to shut it the more firmly it stuck. And this was what happened when the
girl went as usual to bolt the door and make all fast for the night.

'What are you doing?' asked the witch, as her daughter kept tugging at
the handle.

'There is something the matter with the door; it won't shut,' answered
she.

'Well, leave it alone; there is nobody to hurt us,' said the witch, who
was very sleepy; and the girl did as she was bid, and went to bed. Very
soon they both might have been heard snoring, and Pinkel knew that his
time was come. Slipping off his shoes he stole into the hut on tiptoe,
and taking from his pocket some food of which the goat was particularly
fond, he laid it under his nose. Then, while the animal was eating it,
he stuffed each golden bell with wool which he had also brought with
him, stopping every minute to listen, lest the witch should awaken, and
he should find himself changed into some dreadful bird or beast. But the
snoring still continued, and he went on with his work as quickly as he
could. When the last bell was done he drew another handful of food out
of his pocket, and held it out to the goat, which instantly rose to its
feet and followed Pinkel, who backed slowly to the door, and directly
he got outside he seized the goat in his arms and ran down to the place
where he had moored his boat.

As soon as he had reached the middle of the lake, Pinkel took the wool
out of the bells, which began to