The fairies shut him up in a room all by himself and no one ever came to play with him. After he had been there many days, they looked at his little finger to see if he was fat enough for their dinner. Poor little chap, he
had no idea of what they were going to do with him now, as they undressed him and put him in a trough. But when a big fire was lighted, then he knew that he was going to be cooked for the bad fairies dinner!
He begged for mercy, but it was no use. Then he did cry out, loud to Golden Antlers way off in the deep valleys and over the lofty mountains, that they were carrying Smolineck off on a journey from which there would be no return for him.
All at once he heard the joyful, hurrying feet, as old Antlers dashed into the room, gathered the boy up on his broad horns and flew like the wind to the home far away in the woods, over the rivers and streams till their rapid flight was ended.
