Page:The Wonderful Adventures of Nils.djvu/81

Rh haste, I beg of you, and gather together as much grass and litter as you can well carry."

When the boy had his arms full of dried grass, the goosey-gander grabbed him by the shirt-band, lifted him, and flew out on the ice, where the wild geese were already fast asleep, with their bills tucked under their wings.

"Now spread out the grass on the ice, so there'll be something to stand on, to keep me from freezing fast. You help me and I'll help you," said the goosey-gander.

This the boy did. And when he had finished, the goosey-gander picked him up, once again, by the shirt-band, and tucked him under his wing. "I think you'll lie snug and warm there," said the goosey-gander as he covered him with his wing.

The boy was so imbedded in down that he couldn't answer; and he was nice and comfy. Oh, but he was tired!—And in less than two winks he was fast asleep.

NIGHT

a fact that ice is always treacherous and not to be trusted. In the middle of the night the loosened ice-cake on Vomb Lake