Page:Wild folk - Samuel Scoville.djvu/175

Rh Just before dawn he was awakened by high-pitched, trilling, elfin music. Opening his eyes, he saw in the light of the setting moon two tiny things chasing each other round and round his pack, singing as they ran. Even as he listened, he heard from overhead an ominous cracking noise, and leaped to his feet just as a decayed stub whizzed down, landing with a crash on his pack. As long as he lives, Ben will believe that two fairies saved his life.

"Don't tell me," he would say. "I saw 'em. Little weeny fellows half the size of a mouse callin' me to get up. An' I got up. That's the reason I'm here to-day, bless 'em."