not,” returned the Gnome, “that people never call upon me thus with impunity? I take thee at thy word; give me that little squaller, that I may eat him; ’tis long since I’ve come across such a delicate morsel.” So saying, he stretched forth his great rough black hand, as if to lay hold of the child. As the anxious hen, when she sees the devouring fox enter the farm-yard, and make his way towards her tender darlings, dashes, regardless of all disparity of strength, at the cruel enemy of her race, so this alarmed mother, forgetting everything but the safety of her threatened child, rushed at the collier, and clawing with one hand his long beard, and clinching the other, cried: “Monster! ere thou touch my child thou shalt tear out my heart.” Rubezahl, who had by no means anticipated so fierce an assault, hastily drew back, and, after his first astonishment, burst out into a hearty laugh; he had been deceived ere now by a woman; but to be beaten by one!—faith, that was too good! “Don’t be in a passion,” said he good-humouredly; “I am not a cannibal, as thou art so ready to believe, and mean no harm to either thee or thy children; on the contrary, I am willing to serve you all. I like this boy; leave him with me; I will bring him up like a nobleman; he shall be clothed in satin and velvet; shall have money enough, when he grows up, to support you all comfortably; and, meantime, I’ll give thee a hundred crowns down.”
