Strona 580 z 626

When the wild man had once more reached the dark forest, he took

the boy down from his shoulder, and said to him: 'You will never

see your father and mother again, but I will keep you with me,

for you have set me free, and I have compassion on you. If you do

all I bid you, you shall fare well. Of treasure and gold have I

enough, and more than anyone in the world.' He made a bed of moss

for the boy on which he slept, and the next morning the man took

him to a well, and said: 'Behold, the gold well is as bright and

clear as crystal, you shall sit beside it, and take care that

nothing falls into it, or it will be polluted. I will come every

evening to see if you have obeyed my order.' The boy placed

himself by the brink of the well, and often saw a golden fish or

a golden snake show itself therein, and took care that nothing

fell in. As he was thus sitting, his finger hurt him so violently

that he involuntarily put it in the water.