52 THE FAIRY-FOLK OF THE BLUE HILL.

“ At thy service, little gnome,
So prithee say wherefore thou’st come.”

The gnome made an answer thus :—

“Toto the Slim, I have a plan, to which I
hope thou wilt agree. There are two things
that weigh on my mind greatly. One is, to
see the envy that is in Wassa’s heart toward
the hunter’s little maid, whom we all love, and
who has not deserved such unkind treatment
at Wassa’s hands. The other is, the best way
to avenge the insults our giant enemies con-
stantly put upon us. Now, I have bethought
me of a plan to kill two birds with one stone
and settle both of these matters at the same
time. How would it do to have the giants,
when the rover’s family are fast asleep, lift up
the hut and bear it with its inmates far away,
where they will never trouble Mona more?
Now, this will relieve the hunter’s little maid
of all annoyances, and will get the giants into
trouble, for thou know’st they may do nothing
unless ordered by the little gray man. What
think’st thou of my plan, friend elf?”

“Thy plan is excellent, friend gnome,”
replied Toto the Slim, always ready to fall
in with any project that promised mischief,