d　was　blowing　and　roaring　round　the　house　so　terribly　that　at　first

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The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

he　thought　it　was　merely　the　storm。　But　a　second　rap　came；　and　then　a

third；　louder　than　any　of　the　others。

〃'It　is　some　poor　traveller；'　said　little　Hans　to　himself；　and　he　ran　to　the

door。

〃There　stood　the　Miller　with　a　lantern　in　one　hand　and　a　big　stick　in

the　other。

〃'Dear　little　Hans；'　cried　the　Miller；　'I　am　in　great　trouble。　My　little

boy　has　fallen　off　a　ladder　and　hurt　himself；　and　I　am　going　for　the　Doctor。

But　he　lives　so　far　away；　and　it　is　such　a　bad　night；　that　it　has　just　occurred

to　me　that　it　would　be　much　better　if　you　went　instead　of　me。　You　know

I　am　going　to　give　you　my　wheelbarrow；　and　so；　it　is　only　fair　that　you

should　do　something　for　me　in　return。'

〃'Certainly；'　cried　little　Hans；　'I　take　it　quite　as　a　pliment　your

ing　to　me；　and　I　will　start　off　at　once。　But　you　must　lend　me　your

lantern；　as　the　night　is　so　dark　that　I　am　afraid　I　might　fall　into　the　ditch。'

〃'I　am　very　sorry；'　answered　the　Miller；　'but　it　is　my　new　lantern；　and　it

would　be　a　great　loss　to　me　if　anything　happened　to　it。'

〃'Well；　never　mind；　I　will　do　without　it；'　cried　little　Hans；　and　he　took

down　his　great　fur　coat；　and　his　warm　scarlet　cap；　and　tied　a　muffler　round

his　throat；　and　started　off。

〃What　a　dreadful　storm　it　was！　The　night　was　so　black　that　little

Hans　could　hardly　see；　and　the　wind　was　so　strong　that　he　could　scarcely

stand。　However；　he　was　very　courageous；　and　after　he　had　been　walking

about　three　hours；　he　arrived　at　the　Doctor's　house；　and　knocked　at　the

door。

〃'W