But Peterkin had a soft heart in his breast. “See, brothers,” said he, “look how the poor thing turns up its eyes. Sure it would be a pity to take its life, even though our stomachs do grumble a bit.” But the two elder brothers were deaf in that ear. They had gone without their dinners long enough, and they were no such foolish fellows as to throw it away, now that it had come to them. But Peterkin begged and begged, until, at last, the two said that they would let the Little Grey Hare go free if he would give them the two pennies that he had in his pocket. Well, Peterkin let them have the pennies, and they let the hare go, and glad enough it was to get away, I can tell you. “See, Peterkin,” it said, speaking as plainly as a Christian, “you shall lose nothing by this. When you are in a tight place, whistle on your fingers—thus—and perhaps help will come to you.” Then it thumped its feet on the ground and away it scampered. As for Peter’s brothers, they laughed and laughed. A fool and his money were soon parted, said they. How could a little grey hare help him, they should like to know? After a while they came to the town, where Peterkin’s brothers took up their lodgings at a good inn. As for Peterkin, he had to go and sleep in the straw, for one cannot spend money and have it both. So while the brothers were eating broth with meat in it, Peterkin went with nothing. “I wonder,” said he, “if the Little Grey Hare can help me now.” So he whistled on his fingers, just as it had told him. Then who should come hopping and skipping along but the Little Grey Hare itself. “What do you want, Peterkin?” it said. “I should like,” said Peterkin, “to have something to eat.” “Nothing easier than that,” said the Little Grey Hare; and before one could wink twice a fine feast, fit for a king, was spread out before him, and he fell to as though he had not eaten a bite for seven years. After that he slept like a flat stone, for one can sleep well even in the straw, if one only has a good supper within one. When the next morning had come, the two elder brothers bought them each a good new coat with brass buttons. Peterkin they said would have to go as he was, for patches and tatters were good enough for such a spendthrift. But Peterkin knew a way out of that hole. Back of the house he went, and there he blew on his fingers. “What will you have?” said the Little Grey Hare. “I should like,” said Peterkin, “to have a fine new suit of clothes, so that I can go to the king’s house with my brothers and not be ashamed.” “If that is all that you want,” said the Hare, “it is little enough;” and there lay the finest suit of clothes that Peterkin had ever seen, for it was all of blue silk sewed with golden threads. So Peterkin dressed himself in his fine clothes, and you may guess how his brothers stared when they saw him. [Illustration: Peterkin’s brothers marvel at the fine clothes that the hare gave him.]