2 THE FAIRY-FOLK OF THE BLUE HILL.

they shook the earth, and then the timid rab-
bits scurried into their holes, and the sensitive
birds hastened to hide themselves in the
depths of the wood, thinking a thunder storm
was coming.

The brown beetle, however, knew better.
ffe knew, when he heard these sounds, that
the giants were quarrelling. He had seen the
little man in gray, who always appeared when
the quarrels became violent, and the brown
beetle knew well the power this little man pos-
sessed over the great blustering fellows,— he
knew how quickly all disputes ceased when
the little figure, clad in gray, appeared in their
midst.

The brown beetle knew well this little gray
man, whom the timid rabbits and birds thought
to be but a streak of mist. Oh! the brown
beetle could have told them many a tale, if
they would but have listened to him! It is
not to be wondered at, that they thought the
little gray man but a streak of mist, for they
were too much frightened to take a good look
at him.

The brown beetle, though of dull mind,
understood fully the power of the little gray