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tide was in theirfavor； passing over lakes； formed by the stream in its course；sometimes they seemed quite enclosed by reeds and water…plants； yetthere was always room for them to pass out； although the old treesoverhung the water and the old oaks stretched out their bare branches；as if they had turned up their sleeves and wished to show theirknotty； naked arms。 Old alder…trees； whose roots were loosened fromthe banks； clung with their fibres to the bottom of the stream； andthe tops of the branches above the water looked like little woodyislands。 The water…lilies waved themselves to and fro on the river；everything made the excursion beautiful； and at last they came tothe great eel…weir； where the water rushed through the flood…gates；and the children thought this a beautiful sight。 In those days therewas no factory nor any town house； nothing but the great farm； withits scanty…bearing fields； in which could be seen a few herd ofcattle； and one or two farm laborers。 The rushing of the water throughthe sluices； and the scream of the wild ducks； were almost the onlysigns of active life at Silkborg。 After the firewood had beenunloaded； Christina's father bought a whole bundle of eels and asucking…pig； which were all placed in a basket in the stern of theboat。 Then they returned again up the stream； and as the wind wasfavorable； two sails were hoisted； which carried the boat on as wellas if two horses had been harnessed to it。 As they sailed on； theycame by chance to the place where the boatman's assistant lived； ata little distance from the bank of the river。 The boat was moored； andthe two men； after desiring the children to sit still； both went onshore。 they obeyed this order for a very short time； and then forgotit altogether。 First they peeped into the basket containing the eelsand the sucking…pig； then they must needs pull out the pig and take itin their hands； and feel it； and touch it； and as they both wantedto hold it at the same time； the consequence was that they let it fallinto the water； and the pig sailed away with the stream。
Here was a terrible disaster。 Ib jumped ashore； and ran a littledistance from the boat。
〃Oh； take me with you；〃 cried Christina； and she sprang after him。In a few minutes they found themselves deep in a thicket； and could nolonger see the boat or the shore。 They ran on a little farther； andthen Christina fell down； and began to cry。
Ib helped her up； and said； 〃Never mind； follow me。 Yonder isthe house。〃 But the house was not yonder； and they wandered stillfarther； over the dry rustling leaves of the last year； and treadingon fallen branches that crackled under their little feet； then theyheard a loud； piercing cry； and they stood still to listen。Presently the scream of an eagle sounded through the wood； it was anugly cry； and it frightened the children； but before them； in thethickest part of the forest； grew the most beautiful blackberries；in wonderful quantities。 They looked so inviting that the childrencould not help stopping； and they remained there so long eating；that their mouths and cheeks became quite black with the juice。
Presently they heard the frightful scream again； and Christinasaid； 〃We shall get into trouble about that pig。〃
〃Oh； never mind；〃 said Ib； 〃we will go home to my father'shouse。 It is here in the wood。〃 So they went on； but the road led themout of the way； no house could be seen； it grew dark； and the childrenwere afraid。 The solemn stillness that reigned around them was now andthen broken by the shrill cries of the great horned owl and otherbirds that they knew nothing of。 At last they both lost themselvesin the thicket； Christina began to cry； and then Ib cried too； and；after weeping and lamenting for some time； they stretched themselvesdown on the dry leaves and fell asleep。
The sun was high in the heavens when the two children woke。 Theyfelt cold； but not far from their resting…place； on a hill； the sunwas shining through the trees。 They thought if they went there theyshould be warm； and Ib fancied he should be able to see his father'shouse from such a high spot。 But they were far away from home now；in quite another part of the forest。 They clambered to the top ofthe rising ground； and found themselves on the edge of a declivity；which sloped down to a clear transparent lake。 Great quantities offish could be seen through the clear water； sparkling in the sun'srays； they were quite surprised when they came so suddenly upon suchan unexpected sight。
Close to where they stood grew a hazel…bush； covered withbeautiful nuts。 They soon gathered some； cracked them； and ate thefine young kernels； which were only just ripe。 But there was anothersurprise and fright in store for them。 Out of the thicket stepped atall old woman； her face quite brown； and her hair of a deep shiningblack； the whites of her eyes glittered like a Moor's； on her back shecarried a bundle； and in her hand a knotted stick。 She was a gypsy。The children did not at first understand what she said。 She drew outof her pocket three large nuts； in which she told them were hidden themost beautiful and lovely things in the world； for they were wishingnuts。 Ib looked at her； and as she spoke so kindly； he took courage；and asked her if she would give him the nuts； and the woman gavethem to him； and then gathered some more from the bushes forherself； quite a pocket full。 Ib and Christina looked at the wishingnuts with wide open eyes。
〃Is there in this nut a carriage； with a pair of horses？〃 askedIb。
〃Yes； there is a golden carriage； with two golden horses；〃 repliedthe woman。
〃Then give me that nut；〃 said Christina； so Ib gave it to her； andthe strange woman tied up the nut for her in her handkerchief。
Ib held up another nut。 〃Is there； in this nut； a pretty littleneckerchief like the one Christina has on her neck？〃 asked Ib。
〃There are ten neckerchiefs in it；〃 she replied； 〃as well asbeautiful dresses； stockings； and a hat and veil。〃
〃Then I will have that one also；〃 said Christina； 〃and it is apretty one too。 And then Ib gave her the second nut。
The third was a little black thing。 〃You may keep that one；〃said Christina； 〃it is quite as pretty。〃
〃What is in it？〃 asked Ib。
〃The best of all things for you；〃 replied the gypsy。 So Ib heldthe nut very tight。
Then the woman promised to lead the children to the right path；that they might find their way home： and they went forward certainlyin quite another direction to the one they meant to take； therefore noone ought to speak against the woman； and say that she wanted to stealthe children。 In the wild wood…path they met a forester who knew Ib；and； by his help； Ib and Christina reached home； where they foundevery one had been very anxious about them。 They were pardoned andforgiven； although they really had both done wrong； and deserved toget into trouble； first； because they had let the sucking…pig fallinto the water； and； secondly； because they had run away。 Christinawas taken back to her father's house on the heath； and Ib remainedin the farm…house on the borders of the wood； near the great landridge。
The first thing Ib did that evening was to take out of hispocket the little black nut； in which the best thing of all was saidto be enclosed。 He laid it carefully between the door and thedoor…post； and then shut the door so that the nut cracked directly。But there was not much kernel to be seen； it was what we should callhollow or worm…eaten； and looked as if it had been filled with tobaccoor rich black earth。 〃It is just what I expected！〃 exclaimed Ib。〃How should there be room in a little nut like this for the best thingof all？ Christina will find her two nuts just the same； there willbe neither fine clothes or a golden carriage in them。〃
Winter came； and the new year； and indeed many years passedaway； until Ib was old enough to be confirmed； and； therefore； he wentduring a whole winter to the clergyman of the nearest village to beprepared。
One day； about this time； the boatman paid a visit to Ib'sparents； and told them that Christina was going to service； and thatshe had been remarkably fortunate in obtaining a good place； with mostrespectable people。 〃Only think；〃 he said； 〃She is going to the richinnkeeper's； at the hotel