Pagina 352 di 626

The path led him into a wood, and there he saw two old ravens

standing by their nest, and throwing out their young ones. 'Out

with you, you idle, good-for-nothing creatures!' cried they; 'we

cannot find food for you any longer; you are big enough, and can

provide for yourselves.' But the poor young ravens lay upon the

ground, flapping their wings, and crying: 'Oh, what helpless

chicks we are! We must shift for ourselves, and yet we cannot

fly! What can we do, but lie here and starve?' So the good young

fellow alighted and killed his horse with his sword, and gave it

to them for food. Then they came hopping up to it, satisfied

their hunger, and cried: 'We will remember you--one good turn

deserves another!'