Jacob and the Raven 21

house to sleep at. Then he would perch
on a high tree near at hand, and when the
people saw a boy all alone, they were glad
to give him a night’s lodging and fill his
pockets with food, while he in his turn
was always ready to sweep the house, or
chop wood, or draw water, and so got
along well. Once they met a flock of wild
geese flying south on their strong wings,
and with them Krawk had a short parley ;
but as to what they said, he was very
reserved, and rather annoyed Jacob, who
thought he should have heard all. Then,
as they reached further north, every-
thing grew more gloomy and bare, and
the soft rain-clouds, changing to snow-
clouds, did not fly so swiftly, and Jacob
grew disheartened and weary, and disposed
to quarrel with the raven, who certainly
spoke his mind quite freely, and perhaps
rather disagreeably.

At last one day his discontent came to a
head; and then something happened.

“He had walked a long, long way, and