“Not yet,” answered Hansel, “but the farther I dig, the nearer I am to it,” and he dug faster than ever. “Have you found it yet?” asked the cock again, a little later. “The earth is moist,” Hansel answered; but he was now so deep down in the hole that his voice could hardly be heard. “Have you found it yet?” the cock gasped faintly, after a few minutes. “I can’t stand up any longer. I think I am dying.” Hansel was now so deep down that he could not hear the cock’s question; but he gave it a good answer, nevertheless, for he climbed out of the well as fast as ever he could. The water was coming in by pailfuls, and he carried his cap all full and dripping to the thirsty cock. It was not long before the cock was as well as ever. Hansel made a little trench from the well to the coop so that the poor thing should not suffer from thirst again. Then he said:-- “Good-bye, Friend Cock. I must go on my way now, for I am seeking my fortune.” “But I haven’t thanked you yet,” said the cock. “How shall I pay you for what you have done for me?” “Oh, I don’t want any pay,” called Hansel over his shoulder, for he was already on his way. “But I have a gift for you,” cried the cock, and Hansel went back. The cock stretched his neck through the bars of the coop. Something was in his bill. “This is for you,” he said, and he dropped a little black seed into the boy’s hand. “When you are in trouble, plant that seed.” “Thank you very much,” said Hansel. “I’ll keep it to remember you by,” and he dropped it into his pocket. “Good-bye again,” he called. “Oh, but wait a minute,” pleaded the cock. “I have some advice for you.” “All right,” replied the boy good-naturedly. “What is it? Advice isn’t heavy, and I can carry it in the same pocket with the seed.” “The first time that a giant asks you a question, be sure to answer ‘Yes.’” “I hope I’ll not meet any giants, but if I do, I’ll not forget,” Hansel promised. “All good things are three, so good-bye again.” “Then gifts should be three,” declared the cock, “and the third is yet to come. This is a bit of advice, too. There’s no good fortune down this road. Whoever walks beyond this house comes to trouble. Turn back and choose another way.” Hansel hesitated, for he remembered how hot and sandy or rocky the other roads looked; but he remembered, too, what his old nurse used to say, “There’s many and many a thing that the beasts and birds know which men and women have yet to learn.” “I’ll go back,” he said; “and now good-bye for the last time.” “Good-bye,” called the cock, with a cheery crow. “Don’t lose the seed and don’t forget to say ‘Yes’ to the first question that a giant asks you.” Then Hansel went back through the forest, and it was not long before he came to the place where the four roads met. “One is as good as another,” he said to himself again, “and I may as well take the second.”