Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 2, 2025
The King in his terror called out, 'Stop a moment; I will give you half my kingdom if you will drive all the wolves away. But Ferko pretended not to hear, and drove some more thousands before him, so that everyone quaked with horror and fear.
He had not gone far before he met a wolf, who was limping disconsolately along on three legs, and who on perceiving Ferko began to howl dismally. 'My good friend, said the youth, 'be of good cheer, for I can soon heal your leg, and with these words he poured some of the precious water over the wolf's paw, and in a minute the animal was springing about sound and well on all fours.
But when the sun was once more high in the heavens, Ferko felt the blazing heat scorch him, and sought for some cool shady place to rest his aching limbs. He climbed to the top of a hill and lay down in the grass, and as he thought under the shadow of a big tree. But it was no tree he leant against, but a gallows on which two ravens were seated.
Go quickly to the King, and tell him to go to the hill that he may see the wonder you have done with his own eyes. Then return at once to me and get on my back, and I will help you to drive all the wolves together. Then Ferko went straight to the palace and told the King that he was ready to perform the third task if he would come to the hill and see it done.
And turning to the two wicked brothers he said, 'Suggest something for him to do; no matter how difficult, he must succeed in it or die. They did not think long, but replied, 'Let him build your Majesty in one day a more beautiful palace than this, and if he fails in the attempt let him be hung. The King was pleased with this proposal, and commanded Ferko to set to work on the following day.
Ferko fell fast asleep, but the other two remained awake, and the eldest said to the second brother, 'What do you say to doing our brother Ferko some harm? He is so beautiful that everyone takes a fancy to him, which is more than they do to us. If we could only get him out of the way we might succeed better.
Then Ferko recognised the mouse whose front paws he had healed, and replied, 'Alas I how can you help me in a matter that is beyond any human power! Before to-morrow night all the grain in the kingdom has to be gathered into one big heap, and if as much as a stalk of corn is wanting I must pay for it with my life. 'Is that all? answered the mouse; 'that needn't distress you much.
Then the cruel creatures laughed, and repeated what they had said the day before; but when Ferko continued to beg and beseech them, the eldest said at last, 'If you will let us put out one of your eyes and break one of your legs, then we will give you a bit of our bread.
Just trust in me, and before the sun sets again you shall hear that your task is done. And with these words the little creature scampered away into the fields. Ferko, who never doubted that the mouse would be as good as its word, lay down comforted on the soft grass and slept soundly till next morning.
When this was done he stretched out his hand eagerly for the piece of bread, but his brothers gave him such a tiny scrap that the starving youth finished it in a moment and besought them for a second bit. But the more Ferko wept and told his brothers that he was dying of hunger, the more they laughed and scolded him for his greed.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking