Seite 581 von 626

He drew it quickly out again, but saw that it was quite gilded,

and whatsoever pains he took to wash the gold off again, all was

to no purpose. In the evening Iron Hans came back, looked at the

boy, and said: 'What has happened to the well?' 'Nothing

nothing,' he answered, and held his finger behind his back, that

the man might not see it. But he said: 'You have dipped your

finger into the water, this time it may pass, but take care you

do not again let anything go in.' By daybreak the boy was already

sitting by the well and watching it. His finger hurt him again

and he passed it over his head, and then unhappily a hair fell

down into the well. He took it quickly out, but it was already

quite gilded. Iron Hans came, and already knew what had happened.

'You have let a hair fall into the well,' said he. 'I will allow

you to watch by it once more, but if this happens for the third

time then the well is polluted and you can no longer remain with

me.'