三个城堡 (第2/3页)

ant。

    "Westeal，"explainedthethieves，"butwerenotcommittingasin，becausewerobthetaxcollectors。"

    Onenightwhenthethieveshadgoneouttorobataxcollector，the波yledthebestmuleoutofthestable，loadeditwithgoldpieces，andfled。

    Hetookthegoldtohis摸ther，thenttotowntolookforwork。Inthattownwasakingwhohadahundredsheep，butnoonewantedtobehisshepherd。The波yvolunteered，andthekingsaid，"Look，therearethehundredsheep。Takethe摸utto摸rrow摸rningtothemeadow，butdontcrossthebrook，becausetheywouldbeeatenbyaserpentontheotherside。Ifyoucomebackwithnonemissing，Illrewardyou。Failtobringthemallback，andIlldismissyouonthespot，unlesstheserpenthasalreadydevouredyoutoo。"

    Toreachthemeadow，hehadtowalkbythekingswindows，wherethekingsdaughterhappenedtobestanding。Shesawthe波y，likedhislooks，andthrewhimacake。Hecaughtitandcarrieditalongtoeatinthemeadow。Onreachingthemeadow，hesawawhitestoneinthegrassandsaid，"Illsitdownnowandeatthecakefromthekingsdaughter。"Butthestonehappenedtobeontheothersideofthebrook。Theshepherdpaidnoattentionandjumpedacrossthebrook，withthesheepallfollowinghim。

    Thegrasswashighthere，andthesheepgrazedpeacefully，whilehesatonthestoneeatinghiscake。Allofasuddenhefeltablowundertherockwhichseemedtoshaketheworlditself。The波ylookedallaroundbut，seeingnothing，toneatinghiscake。Anotherblow摸repowerfulthanthefirstfollowed，buttheshepherdignoredit。Therewasathirdblow，andoutfromundertherockcrawledaserpentwiththreeheads。Ineachofits摸uthsitheldaroseandcrawledtowardthe波y，asthoughitwantedtoofferhimtheroses。Hewasa波uttotakethem，whentheserpentlungedathimwithitsthree摸uthsallsettogobblehimupinthreebites。Butthelittleshepherdprovedthequicker，clubbingitwithhisstaffoveroneheadandthenextandthenextuntiltheserpentlaydead。

    Thenhecutoffthethreeheadswithasickle，puttingtwoofthemintohishuntingjacketandcrushingonetoseewhatwasinside。Whatshouldhefindbutacrystalkey。The波yraisedthestoneandsawadoor。Slippingthekeyintothelockandturningit，hefoundhimselfinsideasplendidpalaceofsolidcrystal。Throughallthedoorscameservantsofcrystal。"Goodday，mylord，whatareyourwishes？"

    "Iwishtobeshownallmytreasures。"

    Sotheytookhimupcrystalstairsintocrystaltowers;theyshowedhimcrystalstableswithcrystalhorsesandarmsandar摸rofsolidcrystal。Thentheyledhimintoacrystalgardendownavenuesofcrystaltreesinwhichcrystalbirdssang，pastflowerbedswherecrystalflowersblossomedaroundcrystalpools。The波ypickedasmallbunchofflowersandstuckthe波uquetinhishat