30 UNniNE.
tliis last most wearisome day. Only come with me ; the forest-stream has driven ashore a cask ; and I will be pnndenined to sleep through a whole week, if it is not a wine-cask."
The men followed her, and actually found, in a bushy cove of the shore, a cask, which inspired them with as much joy as if they Avere sure it contained the generous old wine for which they were thirsting. They first of all, and with as much expedition as possible, rolled it toward the cottage ; for heavy clouds were again rising in the west, and they could discern the waves of the lake in the fading light lifting their white foaming heads, as if look- ing out for the rain, which threatened every instant to pour upon them. Undine helped the men as much as she was able ; and as the shower, with a roar of wind, came suddenly sweeping on in rapid pursuit, she raised her finger with a merry menace toward the dark mass of clouds, and cried :
"You cloud, you cloud, have a care! — beware how you wet us ; we are some way from shelter yet."
The old man reproved her for this sally, as a sinful presumption ; but she laughed to herself softly, and no mischief came from her wild behaviour. Nay more, what was beyond their expectation, they reached their comfort- able hearth unwet, with their prize secured ; but the cask had hardly been broached, and proved to contain wine of a remarkably fine flavour, when the rain first poured unre- strained from the black cloud, the tempest raved through the tops of the trees, and swejjt far over the billows of the deep.
Having immediately filled several bottles from the cask, which promised them a supply for a long time, they drew round the glowing hearth ; and, comfortably secured from the tempest, they sat tasting the flavour of their wine and bandying jests.
But the old fisherman suddenly became extremely grave, and said : " Ah, great God ! here we sit, rejoicing
