| 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 |
| 1 | 22 | 45 | 67 | 89 |
|
www.freeclassicebooks.com
The Prince, crooked and sour of visage as all Knooks are, looked only upon the
dead leaves at his feet and muttered: "You are the Master Woodsman of the
World!"
Ak smiled, but continued, in soft tones: "It seems that the deer which are
guarded by your people can be of great assistance to Claus, and as they seem
willing to draw his sledge I beg that you will permit him to use their services
whenever he pleases."
The Prince did not reply, but tapped the curled point of his sandal with the tip
of his spear, as if in thought.
Then the Fairy Queen spoke to him in this way: "If you consent to Ak's request
I will see that no harm comes to your deer while they are away from the
Forest."
And the Prince of the Ryls added: "For my part I will allow to every deer that
assists Claus the privilege of eating my casa plants, which give strength, and
my grawle plants, which give fleetness of foot, and my marbon plants, which
give long life."
And the Queen of the Nymphs said: "The deer which draw the sledge of Claus
will be permitted to bathe in the Forest pool of Nares, which will give them
sleek coats and wonderful beauty."
The Prince of the Knooks, hearing these promises, shifted uneasily on his
seat, for in his heart he hated to refuse a request of his fellow immortals,
although they were asking an unusual favor at his hands, and the Knooks are
unaccustomed to granting favors of any kind. Finally he turned to his
servants and said:
"
Call Will Knook."
When surly Will came and heard the demands of the immortals he protested
loudly against granting them.
"
Deer are deer," said he, "and nothing but deer. Were they horses it would be
right to harness them like horses. But no one harnesses deer because they
are free, wild creatures, owing no service of any sort to mankind. It would
degrade my deer to labor for Claus, who is only a man in spite of the
friendship lavished on him by the immortals."
"
You have heard," said the Prince to Ak. "There is truth in what Will says."
6
4
Page
Quick Jump
|