Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/381

Rh Yes, Matt thought so too, for his mother had said it; what she begged him do, he would do. That was safe and sure, he said, for what she said must be so, and not otherwise. So he hewed down timber, and dragged it down and built a bridge. It didn't go so awfully fast with the work, but at any rate, he had his hands full while it went on.

When the bridge was ready, the lad was to stand down at its end and take toll of those who wanted to cross, and his mother bade him be sure not to let any one over unless they paid the toll. It was all the same, she said, if it were not always in money. Goods and wares were just as good pay.

So the first day came three chaps with each his load of hay, and wanted to cross the bridge.

"No, no," said the lad, "you can't go over till I've taken the toll."

"We've nothing to pay it with," they said.

"Well, then, you can't cross; but it's all the same, if it isn't money; goods will do just as well."

So they gave him each a wisp of hay, and he had as much as would go on a little hand-sledge, and then they had leave to pass over the bridge.

Next came a pedlar with his pack, who sold needles and thread and such like small wares, and he wanted to cross.

"You can't cross till you have paid the toll," said the lad.

"I've nothing to pay it with," said the pedlar.

"You have wares, at any rate."

So the pedlar took out two needles and gave them him, and then he had leave to cross the bridge. As