KINKACH MARTINKO 331

“Now that is exactly what you want to know, my dear
girl ; so do not forget, and you are saved.”

And with these words the old man vanished.

Helen was greatly astonished, but she took care to fix in
her memory all that the good fellow had told her, and then
went to sleep, feeling that she could face to-morrow without
fear.

On the third day, very early in the morning, the little old
man appeared and set busily to work, for he knew that all the
hemp must be spun before sunset, and that then he should
be able to claim his rights. When evening came all the hemp
was gone, and the room shone with the brightness of the
golden thread.

As soon as his work was done, the queer little old man
with the red cap drew himself up with a great deal of assur-
ance, and with his hands in his pockets strutted up and down
before Helen, ordering her to tell him his right name and to
say of what stuff the boots were made: but he felt certain
that she would not be able to answer aright.

“Your name is KiInKAcH MartTINKo, and your boots are
made of dogskin,” she replied without the slightest hesitation.

At these words he ‘spun round on the floor like a bobbin,
tore out his hair and beat his breast with rage, roaring so that
the very walls trembled.

“Tt is lucky for you that you have guessed. If you had
not, I should have torn you to pieces on this very spot:” so
saying he rushed out of the window like a whirlwind.

Helen felt deeply grateful towards the old man who had
told her the answers, and hoped to be able to thank him in
person. But he never appeared again.