HANS IN LUCK. 571

‘on foot still ?"—* I must indeed,” replied he ; ‘here have I
a lump to carry home; it is gold certainly, but I cannot hold
my head up, and it hurts my shoulder.’”—“ Do you know,”
said the rider, “we will exchange: I give you my horse, and
you shall give me your lump.”"—* With all my heart,” replied
Hans;" but I tell you, you will be sadly burthened.”

The man dismounted, took the gold, and helped Hans on,
and, giving him hold of the bridle, he said, “If he should
not go quite quickly enough, you must rattle your tongue, and
ery, Gee up! gee up!”

‘Now Hans was very gladas he sat upon the horse, and rode
on so freely and bravely ; but presently he wished to go
quicker, so he began to rattle his tongue, and cry Gee up.
The horse began a smart trot, and before Hans knew what
was the matter, he was thrown off, and fell into a ditch which
divided the fields from the road. The horse would have run
away, if a peasant who was coming that way, driving a cow
before him, had not stopped him. Hans picked himself up
again, and felt whether his bones were all right ; but he was
quite in a passion, and said to the countryman, “ Riding is bad
sport, particularly if one happens with such amare as this, which
kicks and throws one off fit to break one’s neck. J’ won't get
on her any more, any how. Commend to me your cow; for
one can walk behind her with ease, and have besides, every day,
milk, butter, and cheese. What would I not give to have a
cow !”"—“ Why,” said the countryman, “since you have met
with such a mishap, I will exchange my cow for your horse.”
Hans consented with a thousand thanks, and the countryman,
mounting the horse, rode off at once.

Hans drove his cow quietly before him, and thought he had
made a capital bargain. ‘Let me have but a piece of bread,”
thought he, “and that at present I have no fear of wanting,