60 THE FAIRY-FOLK OF THE BLUE HILL.

that evening two of the strongest and most
reliable giants should lift the rover’s hut and
bear it so far away that the hunter’s family
should suffer no more persecutions at their
hands.

As soon as this plan was agreed upon, the
blue dragon-fly flew home, followed by her
attendants, who had all this time remained
ebediently near.

The day deepened into afternoon, and the
sun set behind the western woods; twilight
‘came on with its soft shadows, and at last the
moon rose over the eastern brow of Blue Hill
and sailed into the sky, lighting up the mead-
ows and casting a silver sheen over the winding
river. Sometimes the shining stream seemed
lost amid the tangle of trees and shrubs, but
there it was again, glistening brighter than ever
in the clear moonlight.

No noise was heard save the chirping of
crickets and tree-toads, and the occasional cry
of anight hawk. Then down Blue Hill came
the giants, and strode toward the pond on
whose shores the rover’s hut stood.

Half hidden by trees was the hut, built of
trees and boughs roughly put together. It