The Blue-Haired Ogre 73

something to take back, so that mother
might have a warm dress, and father a
good double-handful of tobacco! Perhaps,
too, there would be enough to fit out Karl
to be a soldier by-and-by, and get books for
Peter.”

He was so interested in his plans that -at
last he began to talk aloud, and very much
surprised he was to hear a little voice
answer—

“To have all this you must first pluck
out three hairs from the beard of the blue-
haired ogre.”

The voice was close to his ear, and when
Hans had twisted himself round he saw the
most beautiful bird you ever beheld, all
green and gold and crimson, sitting on his
shoulder, and somehow when he saw it
he no longer wondered, for it had always
astonished him that he should not under-
stand when the birds talked. Now he was
in a tremendous hurry to ask a dozen
questions.

“Oh, you beauty!” he cried, “‘where did