Jacob and the Raven 39

the raven had managed so cleverly to get
Jacob away, he was not easy in his mind,
for he did not know what might happen to
the boy. Jacob had passed through a bad
three or four days, and want of food had
left him really exhausted; besides, he was
constantly looking behind, from terror of
the woman. It may easily be guessed,
therefore, that he was no longer the stout
active boy who had been able to put up
with cold and hardships, and Krawk had
good reason to be afraid that if he became
more tired he might be unable to get on,
and perhaps fall into a sleep from which
there would be no awakening. Several
times the wise old bird rose high into the
air, balancing himself on his strong pinions,
so that he could look well over the trees ;
but he could make out no sign of a shelter,
and dared not leave Jacob alone while he
went to seek help. Jacob knew that it
was his own wrong-headedness which had
brought him into this plight, and to do
him justice he struggled on as bravely as