They had not flown far when Spider Eyes turned to Chip Wing, and said: “I wonder if we are going the right way? We will have to ask some one again.”
“Oh, oh! do not ask!” exclaimed Pointed Toes. “I am so afraid! We surely will be hurt!”
Spider Eyes answered: “We will not be caught again. We have learned too much for that.”
“Now, who will you ask?” queried Dusty Cap.
Just as he said that, they heard “Caw, caw.” They jumped back with fright, it sounded so close to them.
Looking around, they saw on a stone fence a big black crow.
He was so big and so black!
“Suppose we ask him,” said Spider Eyes. “We have heard all about him. Everybody says he knows a great deal. It is well we met him. He is just the one to tell us the way to the beautiful world.”
So they gathered courage afresh, and flew to the fence, and sat by the side of the black crow, who was trimming his feathers.
They sat very still, for they were half afraid.
Just as he was pulling one feather out very straight he happened to glance down and spied Spider Eyes.
“Ho, ho! little man, why, who are you? where did you come from? and what do you want?”
“Oh,” answered Spider Eyes, “I am a little elf from Elfland. I and my three brothers wish to see the beautiful world, and you, who fly so high and go so far, can surely tell us where it is.”
“Well, I guess I can,” answered the crow, “for I have seen the gates many and many a time. You must fly directly east, for there are the golden gates. Now, farewell, for I must go. I have many a hill to reach in the west before the dark comes on.”
Saying this, he flew away and left the little elves still sitting on the fence.
“See,” said Spider Eyes, “I told you so; I knew we would find the way to the beautiful world, and from what the crow said we cannot be very far from it.”
Then off they all four flew, straining every feather of their wings to reach the east.
On and on they flew; and still the east seemed so far away.
At last Spider Eyes called out: “Stop, brothers, stop! There must be a shorter way. We have been flying east long enough, and have not had a glimpse of the beautiful gates. The next person we meet will know the way to the beautiful world we are so anxious to see.”
THE CROW AND THE FOUR LITTLE ELVES