saidtheoldman,ashecreptintothebag.

"yes,"saidlittleclaus,andhetiedupthesack,andthenwalkedoffwithallthecowsandoxen.

whengreatclauscameoutofchurch,hetookupthesack,andplaceditonhisshoulders.itappearedtohavebecomelighter,fortheolddroverwasnothalfsoheavyaslittleclaus.

"howlightheseemsnow,"saidhe."ah,itisbecauseihavebeentoachurch."sohewalkedontotheriver,whichwasdeepandbroad,andthrewthesackcontainingtheolddroverintothewater,believingittobelittleclaus."thereyoumaylie!"heexclaimed;"youwillplaymenomoretricksnow."thenheturnedtogohome,butwhenhecametoaplacewheretworoadscrossed,therewaslittleclausdrivingthecattle."howisthis?"saidgreatclaus."didinotdrownyoujustnow?"

"yes,"saidlittleclaus;"youthrewmeintotheriverabouthalfanhourago."

"butwhereverdidyougetallthesefinebeasts?"askedgreatclaus.

"thesebeastsaresea-cattle,"repliedlittleclaus."i'lltellyouthewholestory,andthankyoufordrowningme;iamaboveyounow,iamreallyveryrich.iwasfrightened,tobesure,whileilaytiedupinthesack,andthewindwhistledinmyearswhenyouthrewmeintotheriverfromthebridge,andisanktothebottomimmediately;butididnothurtmyself,forifelluponbeautifullysoftgrasswhichgrowsdownthere;andinamoment,thesackopened,andthesweetestlittlemaidencametowardsme.shehadsnow-whiterobes,andawreathofgreenleavesonherwethair.shetookmebythehand,andsaid,'soyouarecome,littleclaus,andherearesomecattleforyoutobeginwith.aboutamilefartherontheroad,thereisanotherherdforyou.'thenisawthattheriverformedagreathighwayforthepeoplewholiveinthesea.theywerewalkinganddrivinghereandtherefromtheseatothelandatthe,spotwheretheriverterminates.thebedoftheriverwascoveredwiththeloveliestflowersandsweetfreshgrass.thefishswampastmeasrapidlyasthebirdsdohereintheair.howhandsomeallthepeoplewere,andwhatfinecattleweregrazingonthehillsandinthevalleys!"

"butwhydidyoucomeupagain,"saidgreatclaus,"ifitwasallsobeautifuldownthere?ishouldnothavedoneso?"

"well,"saidlittleclaus,"itwasgoodpolicyonmypart;youheardmesayjustnowthatiwastoldbythesea-maidentogoamilefartherontheroad,andishouldfindawholeherdofcattle.bytheroadshemeanttheriver,forshecouldnottravelanyotherway;butiknewthewindingoftheriver,andhowitbends,sometimestotherightandsometimestotheleft,anditseemedalongway,soichoseashorterone;and,bycominguptotheland,andthendrivingacrossthefieldsbackagaintotheriver,ishallsavehalfamile,andgetallmycattlemorequickly."

"whataluckyfellowyouare!"exclaimedgreatclaus."doyouthinkishouldgetanysea-cattleifiwentdowntothebottomoftheriver?"

"yes,ithinkso,"saidlittleclaus;"buticannotcarryyouthereinasack,youaretooheavy.howeverifyouwillgotherefirst,andthencreepintoasack,iwillthrowyouinwiththegreatestpleasure."

"thankyou,"saidgreatclaus;"butremember,ifidonotgetanysea-cattledownthereishallcomeupagainandgiveyouagoodthrashing."

"no,now,don'tbetoofierceaboutit!"saidlittleclaus,astheywalkedontowardstheriver.whentheyapproachedit,thecattle,whowereverythirsty,sawthestream,andrandowntodrink.

"seewhatahurrytheyarein,"saidlittleclaus,"theyarelongingtogetdownagain,"

"come,helpme,makehaste,"saidgreatclaus;"oryou'llgetbeaten."sohecreptintoalargesack,whichhadbeenlyingacrossthebackofoneoftheoxen.

"putinastone,"saidgreatclaus,"orimaynotsink."

"oh,there'snotmuchfearofthat,"hereplied;stillheputalargestoneintothebag,andthentiedittightly,andgaveitapush.

"plump!"