in a passion pass his sword through your body?" "It would not signify, my Lord," replied Comrade; "besides, I should know his intention as soon as he could form it."
They were thus talking when they approached an extensive forest. Comrade said to the Chevalier, "Master, there is a man who lives here that may perhaps be of great service to us; he is a woodcutter, and one who has been gifted." "What dost thou mean by that term?" interrupted Fortuné. "Gifted means, that he has received one or more gifts from fairies," added the horse; "you must engage him to go with us." At the same time, advancing to where the woodcutter was at work, the young Chevalier accosted him with a gentle and winning air, and asked him several questions about the place they were in; whether there were any wild beasts in the forest, and if he would be permitted to hunt in it. The woodcutter replied to everything like an intelligent man. Fortuné then inquired, where the men were gone, who had been helping him to fell so many trees. The woodcutter replied that he had felled them all by himself, that it had been the work of a few hours, and that he must cut down many others to make a load for himself. "What! Do you pretend you will carry all this wood to-day?" said the Chevalier. "Oh, my Lord," replied Strong-back[1] (for thus people called him,) "my strength is extraordinary." "You make a great deal of money, then," said Fortuné. "Very little," replied the woodcutter, "for they are poor in this place; here every one works for himself, without begging his neighbour's assistance." "Since you live in so poor a country," added the Chevalier, "you have only to choose, to go to another. Come with me, you shall not want for anything, and when you would wish to return, I will give you money for your journey." The woodcutter thought he could not do better; he forsook his axe and followed his new master. As soon as they had passed through the forest, they saw a man in the plain, who appeared to be tying his legs together with some riband so closely, that he would scarcely be able to walk. Comrade stopped, and said to his master, "My Lord,"
- ↑ Forte-échine, literally "strong chine." I have translated the names of the seven gifted servants: Forte-échine, Léger, le bon Tireur, Fine-oreille, l'Impétueux, Trinquet and Grugeon, as they are supposed to be nicknames bestowed upon them by the people of the country, and not their proper appellations.
