Page:The Children Who Followed the Piper.djvu/83

 She became a stream, the sweet-sounding stream of water that is still called Canens."

This was the story he told; the children were sorry for Picus the Woodpecker, but they liked hearing his story. And when he had told it Picus went restlessly amongst the trees. Then Mars put down the great cup he had been drinking out of and he stood up to leave. He spoke to Valentine who was beside him. "I can give one of you something," said he, "and you look the most likely one to have it. What would you say to a sword? Lift up the stone that is beside the well and you will find a good blade there." He went off without speaking to the others, taking his spear and marching off with the wolf hanging from it.

They had another visitor, for right up to where they were all sitting Baldwin, the old mill horse, came. The children clapped their hands. "Baldwin has come to ask for a share in our presents," Meg, the little ragpicker, said.