The Headless Dwarfs · page 21 2101Now it is the turn of your bones.102Hi! comrades, make haste! make haste!’103Like 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.104Although 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.105Hans thought his last hour was come, when just as the fight was at the hottest another little dwarf arrived on the scene.106‘Hold, comrades!’ he shouted, turning to the attacking party.107‘This man once did me a service, and I am his debtor.checked by a teacher108When I was in his power he granted me my life.109And 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.’110The headless dwarfs listened to his words and disappeared as suddenly as they had come.111As 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.112‘Ah!’ said the dwarf, seating himself quietly under the tree.113‘You laughed at me when I told you that some day I might do you a good turn.114Now you see I was right, and perhaps you will learn for the future not to despise any creature, however small.’115‘I thank you from my heart,’ answered Hans.116‘My bones are still sore from their blows, and had it not been for you I should indeed have fared badly.’117‘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.118You 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.119The 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.120Under the stone lies a great treasure, which has been hidden there in time of war.121Besides 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.122A third of this money you must give to the poor, but the rest you may keep for yourself.’123As he finished, the cocks in the village crowed, and the little man was nowhere to be seen.124Hans found that his limbs no longer pained him, and lay for some time thinking of the hidden treasure.125Towards morning he fell asleep.126The sun was high in the heavens when his master returned from the town.127‘Hans,’ said he, ‘what a fool you were not to come with me yesterday!128I 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.129‘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.’130‘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.’131They 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 described by the dwarf.132Then he returned to his work.133The first night of the full moon, when the whole village was asleep, he stole out, armed with a pickaxe, and with much difficulty succeeded in dislodging the stone from its place.134Sure enough, there was the hole, and in the hole lay the treasure, exactly as the little man had said.135The following Sunday he handed over the third part to the village poor, and informed the minister that he wished to break his bond of service.136As, however, he did not claim any wages, the minister made no objections, but allowed him to do as he wished.137So Hans went his way, bought himself a large house, and married a young wife, and lived happily and prosperously to the end of his days.138(Ehstnische Marchen.)1 2← previousThe Monkey and the Jelly-fishnext →The Young Man Who Would Have His Eyes Opened↑ back to The Violet Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg641/33/page/2/