the wind whistled in my ears when you threw me into the river from the
bridge, and I sank to the bottom immediately; but I did not hurt myself, for I
fell upon beautifully soft grass which grows down there; and in a moment,
the sack opened, and the sweetest little maiden came towards me. She had
snow-white robes, and a wreath of green leaves on her wet hair. She took
me by the hand, and said, ’So you are come, Little Claus, and here are some
cattle for you to begin with. About a mile farther on the road, there is
another herd for you.’ Then I saw that the river formed a great highway for
the people who live in the sea. They were walking and driving here and
there from the sea to the land at the, spot where the river terminates. The
bed of the river was covered with the loveliest flowers and sweet fresh
grass. The fish swam past me as rapidly as the birds do here in the air. How
handsome all the people were, and what fine cattle were grazing on the hills
and in the valleys!”
“But why did you come up again,” said Great Claus, “if it was all so
beautiful down there? I should not have done so?”
“Well,” said Little Claus, “it was good policy on my part; you heard me
say just now that I was told by the sea-maiden to go a mile farther on the
road, and I should find a whole herd of cattle. By the road she meant the
river, for she could not travel any other way; but I knew the winding of the
river, and how it bends, sometimes to the right and sometimes to the left,
and it seemed a long way, so I chose a shorter one; and, by coming up to the
land, and then driving across the fields back again to the river, I shall save
half a mile, and get all my cattle more quickly.”
“What a lucky fellow you are!” exclaimed Great Claus. “Do you think I
should get any sea-cattle if I went down to the bottom of the river?”
