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in the neighbouring town。 He bade Hans come with him； but； as
the town was only a few hours' ride from where he lived； the
minister was much surprised to see Hans come forth laden with a
bag containing food。
'What are you taking that for？' asked the minister。 'We shall be
there before dark。'
'Who knows？' replied Hans。 'Many things may happen to delay our
journey； and I need not remind you of our contract that the
moment the sun sets I cease to be your servant。 If we don't
reach the town while it is still daylight I shall leave you to
shift for yourself。'
The minister thought he was joking； and made no further remark。
But when they had left the village behind them； and had ridden a
few miles； they found that snow had fallen during the night； and
had been blown by the wind into drifts。 This hindered their
progress； and by the time they had entered the thick wood which
lay between them and their destination the sun was already
touching the tops of the trees。 The horses ploughed their way
slowly through the deep soft snow and as they went Hans kept
turning to look at the sun； which lay at their backs。
'Is there anything behind you？' asked the minister。 'Or what is
it you are always turning round for？'
'I turn round because I have no eyes in the back of my neck；'
said Hans。
'Cease talking nonsense；' replied the minister； 'and give all
your mind to getting us to the town before nightfall。'
Hans did not answer； but rode on steadily； though every now and
then he cast a glance over his shoulder。
When they arrived in the middle of the wood the sun sank
altogether。 Then Hans reined up his horse； took his knapsack；
and jumped out of the sledge。
'What are you doing？ Are you mad？' asked the minister； but
Hans answered quietly； 'The sun is set and my work is over； and I
am going to camp here for the night。'
In vain the master prayed and threatened； and promised Hans a
large reward if he would only drive him on。 The young man was
not to be moved。
'Are you not ashamed to urge me to break my word？' said he。 'If
you want to reach the town to…night you must go alone。 The hour
of my freedom has struck； and I cannot go with you。'
'My good Hans；' entreated the minister； 'I really ought not to
leave you here。 Consider what danger you would be in！ Yonder；
as you see； a gallows is set up； and two evil…doers are hanging
on it。 You could not possibly sleep with such ghastly
neighbours。'
'Why not？' asked Hans。 'Those gallows birds hang high in the
air； and my camp will be on the ground； we shall have nothing to
do with each other。' As he spoke； he turned his back on the
minister； and went his way。
There was no help for it； and the minister had to push on by
himself； if he expected to arrive in time for the christening。
His friends were much surprised to see him drive up without a
coachman； and thought some accident had happened。 But when he
told them of his conversation with Hans they did not know which
was the most foolish； master or man。
It would have mattered little to Hans had he known what they were
saying or thinking of him。 He satisfied his hunger with the food
he had in his knapsack； lit his pipe； pitched his tent under the
boughs of a tree； wrapped himself in his furs； and went sound
asleep。 After some hours； he was awakened by a sudden noise； and
sat up and looked about him。 The moon was shining brightly above
his head； and close by stood two headless dwarfs； talking
angrily。 At the sight of Hans the little dwarfs cried out：
'It is he！ It is he！' and one of them stepping nearer
exclaimed； 'Ah； my old friend！ it is a lucky chance that has
brought us here。 My bones still ache from my fall down the steps
of the tower。 I dare say you have not forgotten that night！ Now
it is the turn of your bones。 Hi！ comrades； make haste！ make
haste！'
Like a swarm of midges； a host of tiny headless creatures seemed
to spring straight out of the ground； and every one was armed
with a club。 Although they were so small； yet there were such
numbers of them and they struck so hard that even a strong man
could do nothing against them。 Hans thought his last hour was
come； when just as the fight was at the hottest another little
dwarf arrived on the scene。
'Hold； comrades！' he shouted； turning to the attacking party。
'This man once did me a service； and I am his debtor。 When I was
in his power he granted me my life。 And even if he did throw you
downstairs； well； a warm bath soon cured your bruises； so you
must just forgive him and go quietly home。'
The headless dwarfs listened to his words and disappeared as
suddenly as they had come。 As soon as Hans recovered himself a
little he looked at his rescuer； and saw he was the dwarf he had
found seated in the church bell。
'Ah！' said the dwarf； seating himself quietly under the tree。
'You laughed at me when I told you that some day I might do you a
good turn。 Now you see I was right； and perhaps you will learn
for the future not to despise any creature； however small。'
'I thank you from my heart；' answered Hans。 'My bones are still
sore from their blows； and had it not been for you I should
indeed have fared badly。'
'I have almost paid my debt；' went on the little man； 'but as you
have suffered already； I will do more； and give you a piece of
information。 You need not remain any longer in the service of
that stingy minister； but when you get home to…morrow go at once
to the north corner of the church； and there you will find a
large stone built into the wall； but not cemented like the rest。
The day after to…morrow the moon is full； and at midnight you
must go to the spot and get the stone out of the wall with a
pickaxe。 Under the stone lies a great treasure； which has been
hidden there in time of war。 Besides church plate； you will find
bags of money； which have been lying in this place for over a
hundred years； and no one knows to whom it all belongs。 A third
of this money you must give to the poor； but the rest you may
keep for yourself。' As he finished； the cocks in the village
crowed； and the little man was nowhere to be seen。 Hans found
that his limbs no longer pained him； and lay for some time
thinking of the hidden treasure。 Towards morning he fell asleep。
The sun was high in the heavens when his master returned from the
town。
'Hans；' said he； 'what a fool you were not to come with me
yesterday！ I was well feasted and entertained； and I have money
in my pocket into the bargain；' he went on； rattling some coins
while he spoke； to make Hans understand how much he had lost。
'Ah； sir；' replied Hans calmly； 'in order to have gained so much
money you must have lain awake all night； but I have earned a
hundred times that amount while I was sleeping soundly。'
'How did you manage that？' asked the minister eagerly； but Hans
answered； 'It is only fools who boast of their farthings； wise
men take care to hide their crowns。'
They drove home； and Hans neglected none of his duties； but put
up the horses and gave them their food before going to the church
corner； where he found the loose stone； exactly in the place
desc