Jacob and the Raven Qa

lumber towards her. It was just at that
moment that the second magpie, flying
swiftly from tree to tree, let fall a knife
in front of Jacob, who darted to pick it
up. It was so sharp that directly it touched
the rope the strands fell apart, and with one
leap the boy was free.

But as he did not know this, he fled as
if the woman were close at his heels, and
it was only when in his blind haste he had
tumbled into a snow-drift and lay kicking
desperately that he at last heard the croak
of the old raven, and something which
sounded like his hoarse laugh. Ashamed
of his panic he struggled out, and there
sat the bird on a dead bough, with his
head as usual on one side, and his bright

eyes twinkling.

“Where wert thou running in such a
hurry?” he asked, chuckling. ‘It was all
I could do to catch thee up.”

Jacob grew very red, but he spoke out
bravely.

“JT ran because I was frightened. Let