Part 30 (2/2)
”Caw! Caw!” said one of them. ”Wouldn't that shepherd be surprised if he knew he was lying on some buried treasure!”
”Caw! Caw!” laughed the other. ”He'll never know for he's only one of those poor stupid human beings who can't understand a word we say!”
The ravens flew off and the shepherd sat up and rubbed his eyes to make sure he was awake.
”Am I dreaming again?” he asked himself, ”or did I really understand them? Well, I'll soon find out. To-morrow I'll bring a spade and then if there's any treasure buried under this tree I won't be long in digging it up.”
He marked the spot where he had been lying when the ravens spoke and the next day came back and dug. Three feet below the surface his spade hit something that proved to be a big iron pot chock-full of golden ducats.
He carried the treasure to his master and his master was so pleased at his honesty that he gave him half of it.
So now the shepherd was able to set up in life for himself. He bought a farm and married and ”settled down” as the saying is. The years went by and he grew prosperous and rich.
One Christmas Eve he said to his wife:
”I'm thinking, wife, of my youth when I was a shepherd and how lonely it was at times like this when other folk were at home seated about the fire and making merry. Let us give our shepherds out on the hills a surprise to-night. We can take them meats and wine and other food and then I'll go out and guard the sheep while you serve them a fine Christmas supper.”
His wife agreed and they mounted their horses and rode out to the hills taking with them great hampers of food and wine. The wife entertained the shepherds in their hut with a big jolly supper and the master stayed outside all night with the dogs guarding the sheep.
At midnight some wolves came prowling around the flocks.
”See here,” they said to the dogs, ”if you let us in we'll kill the sheep and then we'll divide the carca.s.ses with you.”
The dogs for the most part were young and thoughtless and ready enough to fall in with the wolves' suggestion. But there was one old sheepdog that nothing could tempt.
”I've only a few teeth left!” he growled, ”but those few are still sound and let any wolf come a step nearer and I'll tear him to pieces!”
All night long that one old sheepdog stood on guard faithful to duty.
In the morning the master ordered the shepherds to kill the young dogs and train in new ones.
The shepherds were surprised.
”The master's a clever one!” they told each other. ”Just one night and he found out how worthless those young dogs were!”
As the farmer and his wife were riding home, the farmer's horse ran on ahead.
”Not so fast!” begged the mare that the wife was riding. ”Have pity on me and go more slowly. You have only the master to carry while I'm all laden down with hampers and empty jugs and I don't know what and with a mistress that's twice as big as she was a few months ago!”
The farmer when he heard the mare's complaint burst out laughing.
”What are you laughing at?” his wife asked sharply.
”Nothing,” the farmer said.
”You're laughing at me!” the wife declared, ”I know you are, just because I'm so big that I'm awkward in the saddle!”
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