“That is true; and you saved my life—saved me from my enemies, the sparrows. And this is the second time you have come to my assistance, so I owe you a debt of gratitude. Bugs value their lives as much as human beings, and I am a more important creature than you, in your ignorance, may suppose. But, tell me, why do you come each day to the brook?” “For water,” she answered, staring stupidly down at the talking beetle. “Isn’t it hard work?” the creature inquired. “Yes; but there’s no water on the hill,” said she. “Then dig a well and put a pump in it,” replied the beetle. She shook her head. “My man tried it once; but there was no water,” she said, sadly. “Try it again,” commanded the beetle; “and in return for your kindness to me I will make this promise: if you do not get water from the well you will get that which is more precious to you. I must go now. Do not forget. Dig a well.” And then, without pausing to say good-by, it ran swiftly away and was lost among the stones. The woman returned to the house much perplexed by what the beetle had said, and when her husband came in from his work she told him the whole story. The poor man thought deeply for a time, and then declared: “Wife, there may be truth in what the bug told you. There must be magic in the world yet, if a beetle can speak; and if there is such a thing as magic we may get water from the well. The pump I bought to use in the well which proved to be dry is now lying in the barn, and the only expense in following the talking bug’s advice will be the labor of digging the hole. Labor I am used to; so I will dig the well.” Next day he set about it, and dug so far down in the ground that he could hardly reach the top to climb out again; but not a drop of water was found. “Perhaps you did not dig deep enough,” his wife said, when he told her of his failure. So the following day he made a long ladder, which he put into the hole; and then he dug, and dug, and dug, until the top of the ladder barely reached the top of the hole. But still there was no water. When the woman next went to the brook with her pail she saw the beetle sitting upon a stone beside her path. So she stopped and said: “My husband has dug the well; but there is no water.” “Did he put the pump in the well?” asked the beetle. “No,” she answered. “Then do as I commanded; put in the pump, and if you do not get water I promise you something still more precious.” Saying which, the beetle swiftly slid from the stone and disappeared. The woman went back to the house and told her husband what the bug had said. “Well,” replied the simple fellow, “there can be no harm in trying.” So he got the pump from the barn and placed it in the well, and then he took hold of the handle and began to pump, while his wife stood by to watch what would happen.