146 Fairy Tales -

thought that it was fun; but when they
reached the next crossing, and found that
bridge too swept away, her spirits sank,
and even Barthel was alarmed, though he
tried to speak cheerily.

“We must keep going on,” he said. ‘‘The
next place is not so very far off.”

“Oh, it is miles and miles,’ Joan de-
clared. ‘And I am so tired, and so wet!”

This was true, and he was looking at her
in despair, for he had begun to wonder
whether all the bridges might not be down.
And all he could say was, ‘‘ Well, we must
try, for we can’t stay here;” when at that
very moment somebody stepped out of the
shadow of a great bush growing on the bank,
and little Joan gave a scream of delight.

“© Bart,” she cried, “it is the old woman
with the honey-cakes.”

“Whoof, whoof!” cried Ju-Ju, sniffing
joyfully.

I can’t tell you how glad they were to
see a familiar face; and as for her, one
would have supposed that she was as much