48 THE MAGIC OAK TREE

The lady stopped when she had spoken
thus, and little Hurly-Burly saw that she
seemed to expect an answer; so he said:

‘ Kind lady, if it’s all the same to you,
I'll not go back. Pray tell me what to do!’

As soon as the boy had said these words,
the little lady smiled sweetly upon him, and
then spoke again, as follows:

‘If you wish to succeed in your enterprise bold,

Attend to my words, and do just as you're told.

Turn sharp to your left, and you'll presently see

A wide-spreading oak—a magnificent tree,

Approach it, and when you're within a short span,

Shout ‘' High diddle diddle!"’ as loud as you can.

Turn head over heels when you've uttered this cry,

And follow it quickly with ‘‘ Never say die!”

Whatever may happen when this has been said,

Be brave, and immediately stand on your head.

Then say, in clear voice, ‘‘I'm the Child of the
Falls, .

And whoever would hurt me must ‘look out for
squalls !’""’

As soon as she had said these words, the
little lady waved her hand, and immediately
the spray of the falling water seemed to
increase and thicken, so that the boy could
no longer see her. He had heard quite