Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/30

8 was that he was man enough to keep the king's hares so well.

So he took out the pipe and showed it her, and then he blew into one end and made them fly like the wind over all the hills and dales; and then he blew into the other end, and they all came scampering back to the brake, and all stood in row and rank again.

"What a pretty pipe," said the maid. She would willingly give a hundred dollars for it, if he would sell it, she said.

"Yes! it is something like a pipe," said Osborn Boots; "and it was not to be had for money alone; but if she would give him the hundred dollars, and a kiss for each dollar, she should have it," he said.

Well! why not? of course she would; she would willingly give him two for each dollar, and thanks besides.

So she got the pipe; but when she had got as far as the king's grange, the pipe was gone, for Osborn Boots had wished for it back, and so, when it drew towards eventide, home he came with his hares just like any other flock of sheep; and for all the king's counting or telling, there was no help,—not a hair of the hares was missing.

The third day that he kept the hares, they sent the princess on her way to try and get the pipe from him. She made herself as blithe as a lark, and she bade him two hundred dollars if he would sell her the pipe and tell her how she was to behave to bring it safe home with her.

"Yes! yes! it is something like a pipe," said Osborn Boots; "and it was not for sale," he said, "but all the same, he would do it for her sake, if she would