The Wonderful Adventures of Nils | Page 5

a fearful cackling. "Cock-el-i-coo," crowed the
rooster, "good enough for him! Cock-el-i-coo, he has pulled my comb."
"Ka, ka, kada, serves him right!" cried the hens; and with that they kept
up a continuous cackle. The geese got together in a tight group, stuck

their heads together and asked: "Who can have done this? Who can
have done this?"
But the strangest thing of all was, that the boy understood what they
said. He was so astonished, that he stood there as if rooted to the
doorstep, and listened. "It must be because I am changed into an elf,"
said he. "This is probably why I understand bird-talk."
He thought it was unbearable that the hens would not stop saying that it
served him right. He threw a stone at them and shouted:
"Shut up, you pack!"
But it hadn't occurred to him before, that he was no longer the sort of
boy the hens need fear. The whole henyard made a rush for him, and
formed a ring around him; then they all cried at once: "Ka, ka, kada,
served you right! Ka, ka, kada, served you right!"
The boy tried to get away, but the chickens ran after him and screamed,
until he thought he'd lose his hearing. It is more than likely that he
never could have gotten away from them, if the house cat hadn't come
along just then. As soon as the chickens saw the cat, they quieted down
and pretended to be thinking of nothing else than just to scratch in the
earth for worms.
Immediately the boy ran up to the cat. "You dear pussy!" said he, "you
must know all the corners and hiding places about here? You'll be a
good little kitty and tell me where I can find the elf."
The cat did not reply at once. He seated himself, curled his tail into a
graceful ring around his paws--and stared at the boy. It was a large
black cat with one white spot on his chest. His fur lay sleek and soft,
and shone in the sunlight. The claws were drawn in, and the eyes were
a dull gray, with just a little narrow dark streak down the centre. The
cat looked thoroughly good-natured and inoffensive.
"I know well enough where the elf lives," he said in a soft voice, "but
that doesn't say that I'm going to tell you about it."
"Dear pussy, you must tell me where the elf lives!" said the boy. "Can't
you see how he has bewitched me?"
The cat opened his eyes a little, so that the green wickedness began to
shine forth. He spun round and purred with satisfaction before he
replied. "Shall I perhaps help you because you have so often grabbed
me by the tail?" he said at last.
Then the boy was furious and forgot entirely how little and helpless he

was now. "Oh! I can pull your tail again, I can," said he, and ran toward
the cat.
The next instant the cat was so changed that the boy could scarcely
believe it was the same animal. Every separate hair on his body stood
on end. The back was bent; the legs had become elongated; the claws
scraped the ground; the tail had grown thick and short; the ears were
laid back; the mouth was frothy; and the eyes were wide open and
glistened like sparks of red fire.
The boy didn't want to let himself be scared by a cat, and he took a step
forward. Then the cat made one spring and landed right on the boy;
knocked him down and stood over him--his forepaws on his chest, and
his jaws wide apart--over his throat.
The boy felt how the sharp claws sank through his vest and shirt and
into his skin; and how the sharp eye-teeth tickled his throat. He
shrieked for help, as loudly as he could, but no one came. He thought
surely that his last hour had come. Then he felt that the cat drew in his
claws and let go the hold on his throat.
"There!" he said, "that will do now. I'll let you go this time, for my
mistress's sake. I only wanted you to know which one of us two has the
power now."
With that the cat walked away--looking as smooth and pious as he did
when he first appeared on the scene. The boy was so crestfallen that he
didn't say a word, but only hurried to the cowhouse to look for the elf.
There were not more than three cows, all told. But when the boy came
in, there was such a bellowing and such a kick-up, that one might easily
have believed that there were at least thirty.
"Moo, moo, moo," bellowed Mayrose. "It is well