wood, that a terrible storm came on. It blew so hard and rained
so heavily that he could scarcely keep his eyes open, and before he
was aware of it he had got quite out of the track, and could neither
find road nor path. But he went on, and at last he saw a light far
away in the wood. Then he thought he must try and get to it, and
after a long, long time he did reach it. There was a large house,
and the fire was burning so brightly inside that he could tell that
the people were not in bed. So he went in, and inside there was
an old woman who was busy about some work.

`Good evening, mother!' said the youth.

`Good evening!' said the old woman.

`Hutetu! it is terrible weather outside to-night,' said the young
fellow.

`Indeed it is,' said the old woman.

`Can I sleep here, and have shelter for the night?' asked the
youth.

`It wouldn't be good for you to sleep here,' said the old hag,
`for if the people of the house come home and find you, they will
kill both you and me.'

`What kind of people are they then, who dwell here?' said the
youth.

`Oh! robbers, and rabble of that sort,' said the old woman;