e noise was so deafening that the bugs
and beetles burrowed down into the ground to escape it, while even the
fishes in the well turned over on their backs and fainted from the
vibrations. Whenever they were hungry the Miller's sons always blew
hardest, because then they forgot about their empty stomachs. Although
it was a still day,--so still that the windmill's arms were quite
motionless,--when the children blew the notes from their instruments the
smoke about the cottage chimney huddled itself together and scudded
horizontally away. The trees swayed as if blown by a tempest, and the
waters of the duck-pond became humpy with waves; so that the ducks were
in danger of drowning. When the Miller saw all this he was delighted,
and his face beamed like the sun after a shower.

"Good, my children, good!" he cried. "You are wonderful little Blowers,
and you shall make my fortune yet, though there is not one note of music
in the ten of you. But look now; I have an idea! Gather around me and I
will tell you."

The ten children dropped their instruments and crowded eagerly about the
Miller, for they hoped that he was going to tell them some way to get a
dinner. But instead of this, he led them in a procession straight to the
windmill, where it stood lazily holding out its arms for the breeze
which did not come.

"Look at that lazy windmill!" said the Miller. "He has ground no meal
for a whole day, and we have no money to buy food. Now, children, open
your mouths and blow, _blow_, as hard as you know how, to see whether
you cannot blow wind into his sails and make him go."

So the ten boys stood in a row, and at a signal took in a deep breath.
When the Miller counted "One--two--_three_!" they made round mouths and
blew out a long breath, straight towards the windmill's nearest arm. And
lo! Instantly the sails filled, and the great windmill spun around like
mad, whether it would or no. The Miller's idea was wonderful! The
children jumped up and down, clapping their hands. Why had they never
thought of this before? This was better than blowing instruments!

The Miller told the children to keep on blowing, and ran into the mill
to fill the hopper with grain. The white flour went sifting into the
bags till their sides were plump and firm. In a few moments all the
grain was ground, and the Miller was on his way to deliver the bags to
neighbor Huss. And deaf old Huss was so pleased to have his meal ready
before he expected it tha