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"
Then I can not use the deer this year," said Claus, thoughtfully, "for I shall
not have time enough to make my sackful of toys."
"
The shrewd Prince foresaw that," responded Ak, "and therefore named
Christmas Eve as the day you might use the deer, knowing it would cause you
to lose an entire year."
"
If I only had the toys the Awgwas stole from me," said Claus, sadly, "I could
easily fill my sack for the children."
"
"
Where are they?" asked the Master.
I do not know," replied Claus, "but the wicked Awgwas probably hid them in
the mountains."
Ak turned to the Fairy Queen.
"
"
Can you find them?" he asked.
I will try," she replied, brightly.
Then Claus went back to the Laughing Valley, to work as hard as he could,
and a band of Fairies immediately flew to the mountain that had been
haunted by the Awgwas and began a search for the stolen toys.
The Fairies, as we well know, possess wonderful powers; but the cunning
Awgwas had hidden the toys in a deep cave and covered the opening with
rocks, so no one could look in. Therefore all search for the missing playthings
proved in vain for several days, and Claus, who sat at home waiting for news
from the Fairies, almost despaired of getting the toys before Christmas Eve.
He worked hard every moment, but it took considerable time to carve out and
to shape each toy and to paint it properly, so that on the morning before
Christmas Eve only half of one small shelf above the window was filled with
playthings ready for the children.
But on this morning the Fairies who were searching in the mountains had a
new thought. They joined hands and moved in a straight line through the
rocks that formed the mountain, beginning at the topmost peak and working
downward, so that no spot could be missed by their bright eyes. And at last
they discovered the cave where the toys had been heaped up by the wicked
Awgwas.
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