` What 's this ? ' said Big Klaus . ` Have n't I drowned you ? ' ` Yes , ' replied Little Klaus ; ` you threw me into the river a good half-hour ago ! ' ` But how did you get those splendid cattle ? ' asked Big Klaus . ` They are sea-cattle ! ' said Little Klaus . ' I will tell you the whole story , and I thank you for having drowned me , because now I am on dry land and really rich ! How frightened I was when I was in the sack ! How the wind whistled in my ears as you threw me from the bridge into the cold water ! I sank at once to the bottom ; but I did not hurt myself for underneath was growing the most beautiful soft grass . I fell on this , and immediately the sack opened ; the loveliest maiden in snow-white garments , with a green garland round her wet hair , took me by the hand , and said ! '' Are you Little Klaus ? Here are some cattle for you to begin with , and a mile farther down the road there is another herd , which I will give you as a present ! '' Now I saw that the river was a great high-road for the sea-people . Along it they travel underneath from the sea to the land till the river ends . It was so beautiful , full of flowers and fresh grass ; the fishes which were swimming in the water shot past my ears as the birds do here in the air . What lovely people there were , and what fine cattle were grazing in the ditches and dykes ! ' ` But why did you come up to us again ? '
asked Big XXXXX . '
Klaus bridge cattle drowned grazing mile sack sea sea-people story