太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > 36-the story of big klaus >

第3节

36-the story of big klaus-第3节

小说: 36-the story of big klaus 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!






'And I; poor man;' said the cattle…driver; 'I am so old and yet I

cannot die!'



'Open the sack;' called out Little Klaus; 'creep in here instead

of me; and you will die in a moment!'



'I will gladly do that;' said the cattle…driver; and he opened

the sack; and Little Klaus struggled out at once。



'You will take care of the cattle; won't you?' asked the old man;

creeping into the sack; which Little Klaus fastened up and then

went on with the cows and oxen。  Soon after Big Klaus came out of

the church; and taking up the sack on his shoulders it seemed to

him as if it had become lighter; for the old cattle…driver was

not half as heavy as Little Klaus。 



'How easy he is to carry now!  That must be because I heard part

of the service。'



So he went to the river; which was deep and broad; threw in the

sack with the old driver; and called after it; for he thought

Little Klaus was inside:



'Down you go!  You won't mock me any more now!'



Then he went home; but when he came to the cross…roads; there he

met Little Klaus; who was driving his cattle。



'What's this?' said Big Klaus。  'Haven't I drowned you?'



'Yes;' replied Little Klaus; 'you threw me into the river a good

half…hour ago!'



'But how did you get those splendid cattle?' asked Big Klaus。



'They are sea…cattle!' said Little Klaus。  'I will tell you the

whole story; and I thank you for having drowned me; because now I

am on dry land and really rich!  How frightened I was when I was

in the sack!  How the wind whistled in my ears as you threw me

from the bridge into the cold water!  I sank at once to the

bottom; but I did not hurt myself for underneath was growing the

most beautiful soft grass。  I fell on this; and immediately the

sack opened; the loveliest maiden in snow…white garments; with a

green garland round her wet hair; took me by the hand; and said! 

''Are you Little Klaus?  Here are some cattle for you to begin

with; and a mile farther down the road there is another herd;

which I will give you as a present!'' Now I saw that the river

was a great high…road for the sea…people。  Along it they travel

underneath from the sea to the land till the river ends。  It was

so beautiful; full of flowers and fresh grass; the fishes which

were swimming in the water shot past my ears as the birds do here

in the air。  What lovely people there were; and what fine cattle

were grazing in the ditches and dykes!'



'But why did you come up to us again?' asked Big Klaus。  'I

should not have done so; if it is so beautiful down below!'



'Oh!' said Little Klaus; 'that was just so politic of me。  You

heard what I told you; that the sea…maiden said to me a mile

farther along the roadand by the road she meant the river; for

she can go by no other waythere was another herd of cattle

waiting for me。  But I know what windings the river makes; now

here; now there; so that it is a long way round。  Therefore it

makes it much shorter if one comes on the land and drives across

the field to the river。  Thus I have spared myself quite half a

mile; and have come much quicker to my sea…cattle!'



'Oh; you're a lucky fellow!' said Big Klaus。  'Do you think I

should also get some cattle if I went to the bottom of the

river?'



'Oh; yes!  I think so;' said Little Klaus。  'But I can't carry

you in a sack to the river; you are too heavy for me!  If you

like to go there yourself and then creep into the sack; I will

throw you in with the greatest of pleasure。'



'Thank you;' said Big Klaus; 'but if I don't get any sea…cattle

when I come there; you will have a good hiding; mind!'



'Oh; no!  Don't be so hard on me!'  Then they went to the river。 

When the cattle; which were thirsty; caught sight of the water;

they ran as quickly as they could to drink。



'Look how they are running!' said Little Klaus。  'They want to go

to the bottom again!'



'Yes; but help me first;' said Big Klaus; 'or else you shall have

a beating!'



And so he crept into the large sack; which was lying on the back

of one of the oxen。  'Put a stone in; for I am afraid I may not

reach the bottom;' said Big Klaus。



'It goes all right!' said Little Klaus; but still he laid a big

stone in the sack; fastened it up tight; and then pushed it in。 

Plump!  there was Big Klaus in the water; and he sank like lead

to the bottom。



'I doubt if he will find any cattle!' said Little Klaus as he

drove his own home。


返回目录 上一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的