Page:Select Popular Tales from the German of Musaeus.djvu/145

Rh After they had recovered from their first astonishment, they ran back at full speed, to repossess themselves of the despised gifts of the old lady. Amarin huzzaed aloud when already, in the distance, he saw the table-napkin wave on the summit of the thorn-tree, which had preserved the property intrusted to it more carefully (although the four winds of heaven seemed to struggle for its possession) than many chests in which are deposited the inheritance of minors, though under judicial lock and key. It cost more trouble to recover the rusty penny out of the grass, yet eagerness to possess it, gave the eyes of Argus to the watchful owner, and served as a divining rod to lead his steps, and to point out the spot where the treasure lay concealed. A high leap and a loud cry of joy, announced the happy discovery of the rusty penny.

The company of travellers were much fatigued with their long walk, and sought the shadow of a tree, to shelter themselves from the oppressive heat of the sun; for it was now high noon, and they were hungry. The three adventurers were of good courage; their hearts beat high with joyous hope, and the two companions who had not yet proved the powers of their miraculous gifts made many attempts to discover them. Andiol collected his little cash, laid it with his copper penny, and began to count, forwards, backwards, towards the right, towards the left, from top to bottom, and from bottom to top, without perceiving the anticipated properties of a hatching penny. Amarin had gone to one side, looped the napkin very demurely through his button-hole, expecting nothing less than that a ready-roasted pigeon should fly into his mouth; but his proceeding was much too sinister for the magic table-napkin to act its part; so he returned to his companions, awaiting what destiny should disclose. The feeling of sharp hunger does not indeed improve a merry humour; but, when the elasticity of the soul is once disclosed, it does not sleep again at each little change of weather. On the return of Amarin, Sarron pulled the napkin out of his hand, in a merry manner, spread it on the turf under the tree, and cried, “Hither, comrades, the table is spread, let the power of the napkin now bestow on us a well-boiled ham upon it, with abundance of white bread. Scarcely had he spoken these words, when there rained down manchet loaves from the tree upon the cloth, and at the same moment stood there an ancient vase, in the form of an over-grown dish, with a boiled ham. Astonishment and greediness painted themselves in strange contrast in the faces of the hungry guests; however, the instinct of the stomach soon overcame the surprise, and with great eagerness they proceeded to satisfy their hunger. And now its troublesome twin-brother announced itself; besides which the taster, Sarron, had remarked that the ham had just a little too much salt. The impetuous Andiol first showed his discontent at the half-meal, as he called it; “Who