they found themselves on the top of a very high hill. It was already too dark for them to think of trying to return, so they had no course left open to them but to sleep where they were in the forest. They went to work and got together the material for a fire, collecting all the dry wood and bark to be found near. Soon they had gathered sufficient for their purpose and a bright fire quickly sent its flames leaping high in the air. They cooked food and then camped down among the buttress-like roots of a big tree, making themselves as comfortable as they could in such rough shelter.
When it had become quite dark, they heard many voices all around, as if a multitude of people encompassed them. The men peered into the darkness, but could see nothing, till at last they became sure that the noise proceeded from fairies. Terrified indeed were the poor hunters, and they would gladly have betaken themselves to flight; but they knew not in the darkness what path to pursue, and were too frightened to leave the light of the fire and enter the dark recesses of the wood. The voices kept coming closer and sounding more distinctly, until the men almost fainted with fright. On the other hand, the fairies did not like approaching too close, so they began peep-
