Page:Story of the bitter wedding (1).pdf/16

 16 rapid torrent, which had swept away every vestige of the little bridge that led to the village, with the exception of a single small plank, rushed across the path; the herds- man heeded not the narrow footing, and was stepping boldly across, when his companion began to roar out lustily about the dangers of the path: For my life and soul I will not move from the spot! Neither cat nor rat could pass over there, ---I would be a dead man if I ventured on that cursed plank! Let them fiddle yonder who can swim ---I wish I was in a feather bed with my fiddle for a pillow !' Don't make such a noise about it! cried Berthold. ' If we have got thus far, we will surely go on a little farther,---if I have brought the fiddler this length to the bitter dance, I will also bring him to the wedding house ---though I am a fool, I am neverthe- less a good-natured one.' With these words the herdsman took off the fiddle and wallet from his back, and supplied the place with the dwarf, whom he carried over as easily as a bundle of straw. He then returned for the fiddle, wallet, and crutch, which lay as heavy as so many stones upon his shoulders. "Well, the best of it now is,' said he, that we shall soon reach the village, ---but either my head is turned, or that wallet is filled