Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/125

Rh stuff which had flowed out of Peik's mouth, and then he pulled out the horn and began to blow "Toot-i-too, Toot-i-too," but though he blew and tooted as hard as he could all that day and the next too, he couldn't blow life into them again. Dead they were, and dead they stayed, both the Queen and his daughter, and he was forced to buy graves for them in the churchyard, and to spend money on their funeral ale into the bargain.

So he must and would go and cut Peik off; but Peik had his spies out, and knew when the King was coming, and then he said to his sister—

"Now you must change clothes with me and set off. If you will do that, you may have all we have got."

Well, she changed clothes with him, and packed up and started off as fast as she could; but Peik sat all alone in his sister's clothes.

"Where is that Peik?" said the King as he came in a towering rage through the door.

"He has run away," said Peik.

"Ah! had he been at home," said the King, "I'd have slain him on the spot. It's no good sparing the life of such a rogue."

"Yes! he knew by his spies that your Majesty was coming, and was going to take his life for his wicked tricks; but he has left me all alone without a morsel of bread or a penny in my purse," said Peik, who made himself as soft and mealy-mouthed as a young lady.

"Come along, then, to the King's Grange, and you shall have enough to live on. There's no good sitting here and starving in this cabin by yourself," said the King.