صفحة 22 من 626

After a time he thought he should like to go a little faster, so

he smacked his lips and cried 'Jip!' Away went the horse full

gallop; and before Hans knew what he was about, he was thrown

off, and lay on his back by the road-side. His horse would have

ran off, if a shepherd who was coming by, driving a cow, had not

stopped it. Hans soon came to himself, and got upon his legs

again, sadly vexed, and said to the shepherd, 'This riding is no

joke, when a man has the luck to get upon a beast like this that

stumbles and flings him off as if it would break his neck.

However, I'm off now once for all: I like your cow now a great

deal better than this smart beast that played me this trick, and

has spoiled my best coat, you see, in this puddle; which, by the

by, smells not very like a nosegay. One can walk along at one's

leisure behind that cow--keep good company, and have milk,

butter, and cheese, every day, into the bargain.