Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/200

178 It was long before he got an answer, and still longer before the carle brought it out; but the end was he said, as all the rest, that he was not father in the house. "But go," said he, "and speak to my father; you'll find him hanging up in the horn yonder against the wall."

So the wayfarer stared about round the walls, and at last he caught sight of the horn; but when he looked for him who hung in it, he looked more like a film of ashes that had the likeness of a man's face. Then he was so frightened that he screamed out—

"Good evening, father! will you let me have house-room here to-night?"

Then a chirping came out of the horn like a little tom-tit, and it was all he could do to make out that the chirping meant, "."

And now a table came in which was covered with the costliest dishes, and with ale and brandy; and when he had eaten and drank, there came in a good bed, with reindeer skins; and the wayfarer was so very glad because he had at last found the right father in the house.