"'I want to dismount,' I called out to him; 'help me out of my saddle.' "He jumped off his horse and did as I had bid. "'What do you intend to do?' he then asked. "'You will see shortly.' said I. 'First of all, let the horses go.' "'I should think so, indeed,' he laughed. 'You seem to be one of those who catch their hares by putting salt on their tails.' "And he set about tying the bridles to a tree. "'Let loose,' I commanded; and as he did not obey, I gave the horses a lash of the whip, so that before he thought of catching hold of the reins tighter, they were already galloping about at liberty in the wood. "'What now?' said he, and put his hands in his pockets. 'Do you think they will let themselves be caught?' "'Not by you!' laughed I, for I was sure of my favourites. "And when at a low whistle from my lips they both came racing along from the distance and snuffled about affectionately at my neck with their nostrils, my heart swelled with pride that there were creatures on earth, though only dumb animals, who bowed to my might and were subject to me through love; and triumphantly I looked up at him as if now he must know me as I really was, and what I required of the world. "But I could see that even now I had not impressed him. 'Well done, little one!' he said, nothing more, patted me on the shoulder in fatherly manner, and then threw himself down carelessly upon the grass. The sun's rays, which broke through the foliage, glittered in his beard. Like a hero in repose he appeared to me, like those described in northern saga. "But just as I was about to grow absorbed in my romancing, he began to yawn most fearfully, so that I was very quickly and rudely transferred to prose. "'But we are not going to stay here. Sir Cousin.' "'Don't be foolish, little one,' said he, closing his eyes; 'do like me, let us sleep.' "Then a frolicsome mood possessed me, and I stepped up to him and shook him soundly by the collar. "He snatched at my dress, but I evaded him, so that he jumped to his feet and attempted to lay hold of me. Then I walked quietly to meet him and said, 'That's right, now come along.' And then I led him right through a dense thicket of thorns, down the steep slope, at the foot of which the deep water lay like a dark mirror. Down there broadleaved convolvuli and creepers had formed a natural bower above a projecting block of stone, in which even at high noon one could sit almost in the dark. "Thither I led him. "'Upon my word, it is delightful here, little one,' he said, and comfortably stretched himself upon the stone, so that his feet hung down to the water. 'Come, sit down at my side; ... there is room for us both.' "I did as he wished, but seated myself so that I could look down upon him. "He pretended to be sleeping, and now and again blinked up at me through half-closed lids.