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hollow trees, till on the evening of the seventh day they came into the ravens’ neighbourhood. The tall trees were laden with nests and black with ravens. There was nothing to be heard but continual cawing; and in a great opening where the oaks grew thinnest, the children saw their own fathers busy planting acorns. Each lord had on the velvet mantle in which he left his castle, but it was worn to rags with rough work in the forest. Their hair and beards had grown long; their hands were soiled with earth; each had an old wooden spade, and on all sides lay heaps of acorns. The children called them by their names, and ran to kiss them, each saying—‘Dear father, come back to your castle and your people!’ but the lords replied—

“‘We know of no castles and no people. There is nothing in all this world but oak-trees and acorns.’

“Woodwender and Loveleaves told them of all their former state in vain—nothing would make them pause for a minute: so the poor children first sat down and cried, and then slept on the cold grass, for the sun set, and the lords worked on.

When they awoke it was broad day; Woodwender cheered up his sister, saying—‘We are hungry, and there are still two cakes in the bag, let us