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Lords of the White and Grey Castles.
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swered as before—‘We have promised to drink only running water, and are the children of yonder lords: tell us how the spell may be broken!’—he turned from them with an angry look, poured out the mead, and went his way.

“All that afternoon the children worked beside their fathers, planting acorns with the withered branches; but the lords would mind neither them nor their words. And when the evening drew near they were very hungry; so the children divided their last cake, and when no persuasion would make the lords eat with them, they went to the banks of the stream, and began to eat and drink, though their hearts were heavy.

“The sun was getting low, and the ravens were coming home to their nests in the high trees; but one, that seemed old and weary, alighted near them to drink at the stream. As they ate the raven lingered, and picked up the small crumbs that fell.

“‘Brother,’ said Loveleaves, ‘this raven is surely hungry; let us give it a little bit, though it is our last cake.’

“Woodwender agreed, and each gave a bit to the raven; but its great bill finished the morsels in a moment, and hopping nearer, it looked them in the face by turns.

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