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Rh was now towards evening, and they saw no house in the forest where they were. As they were about to lie down under a tree that they might sleep till the dawn, the boy sprang up from where he sat, and cried, "See, sister, the boar, the boar!"

Now the children knew it not, but the den of a fierce boar was but the cast of a stone from the tree in whose shade they sat, and it was time for the beast to enter his den there to pass the night. But there was now no time for them to run, for he was already rushing towards them, and his tusks were bare, and his bristles stood upright. Yet was there time to climb, and the boy and girl in great fear clung to the branches of the tree while the evil beast, with fearsome roaring, clawed below at the trunk. Long did he strive to reach the children, and many times did their hearts tremble as he flung himself against the trunk of the tree. But at last there was respite. The boar, being wearied, towards midnight withdrew himself into his den to rest.

"Brother," whispered the little maid, "let us now climb down from the tree and fly for our lives." And had they thus done it might have been well with them. But the boy, fearing worse evils in the darkness, said, "Nay, little sister, but let us wait until the birds begin to stir, for then may we see whither we should go." So they tarried until the first bird did cry, and then with much care climbed softly down and stood for a moment that they might know which was their way. But suddenly forth from