“You see, Watch Master, he still has his wooden shoe in his hand,” said the boldest one; “he attacked us with that.” “Be silent!” thundered the man, “we’ll get the right of this. You, put on your shoe, and tell me what you want here in the street with the horse.” “He has stolen the horse,” said one of the boys. “No,” said Friedel, very boldly and clearly, “the horse belongs to me; I made it myself.” The man couldn’t well believe that and said: “That’s very suspicious. Follow me, we’ll soon find out.” So Friedel had to follow him and the bad boys exulted. They gave a howl of joy and started after; but he with the helmet motioned toward his sword and they gladly ran away. The man stalked ahead while Friedel, the sparrow, and Huppdiwupp followed as fast as their legs would carry them. The poor little fellow was very disheartened and thought it a bad adventure. But the sparrow whispered to him: “This is nothing; I can manage it.” At the next corner he gave Friedel a sign and they swung to the right, unnoticed, while the man of law went straight ahead, seeing nothing, intent only on his own steps. “That’s the way to manage such people,” said the sparrow. “You must never follow their orders if you wish to be a clever fellow. But wait! Here we are at the right place. In this old house lives a merchant who deals in cats and dogs, donkeys and horses. Take a look; his window is full of them. Go in and try your luck.” The small boy opened the door, went into the shop, and asked the merchant: “Here is my horse Huppdiwupp. I want very much to sell him. Will you take him?” “Why not?” said the merchant. “What does he cost?” “A thousand thaler.” “That’s too dear for me,” said the merchant, and made a very thoughtful face. “Just look, my horses are much handsomer than yours and even then much cheaper than a thousand thaler.” “Yes,” said Friedel, “I believe that. But your horses are dead and mine is alive. I should know, I made it myself. But tell me, what will you give me?” “Half a pfennig.” “That’s much too little,” said the boy and went quickly out the door. Huppdiwupp sprang over the threshold, as enraged as he. Little Greyhead was much annoyed when he heard the story and peeped very distinctly: “Such a common fellow! It’s a pity I didn’t go in with you, so that I could have given him a piece of my mind. But wait! See that strange fellow coming there? Notice how his spider legs bend under him. His body is so thin that he throws no shadow, and his face looks as though it were plastered with copper money. Ask him, he is surely a horseman. I tell you the best horse deals are always made in the street.” Friedel waited until the man came up and then said, very shyly: “Dear Sir, won’t you buy my little horse? My mother and I have no money.” But the man merely said, “Beggar!” and passed on, leaving the three not knowing what to do. “Don’t cry,” said the sparrow, who recovered quickest; “that’s the way with people. I know them from my grain deals.”