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Golden Hair.
101

Irik quickly dismounted, removed the bush, and put out the fire.

"When you are in trouble," said the ants, "think of us, and we will help you."

Then he rode through the forest and approached a high fir-tree. On the top of it was a raven's nest; and under the tree lay two young ravens screaming and complaining.

"Father and mother have flown away from us. We are too young to search for food for ourselves, for we poor chickens cannot even fly. Oh, help, Irik, help! Give us something to eat or we shall die of hunger."

Irik did not think long; he dismounted from his horse and thrust a sword into its side, that the ravens might have something to eat.

"When you are in trouble," croaked the ravens joyfully, "think of us, and we will help you."

Irik was now obliged to travel on foot. He walked for a long time through the forest, and when at last he came out of it he saw a broad sea before him. Two fishermen were quarrelling on the shore. They had caught a large yellow fish in a net, and each of them wanted to keep it.

"Mine is the net, and mine is the fish," cried one.

"Your net would have been of little use to you had it not been for my boat and help," said the other.