It may fall out that he will grow angry and cut off their heads, and thus the forest will be safe for us.”
That seemed to the wizard to be good advice, and before the close of the day’s work, old Hunbatz, who could fly by flapping his hands in a certain way like a swimmer, cast himself into the air and flew with great swiftness to the place where the father lived. But he took care to dress himself like a woodman.
“Well met,” said the father, seeing Hunbatz, but thinking him no wizard of course. “From where do you come?”
“From the other side of the forest,” was the reply.
“Then perchance you saw my two sons who are clearing the forest,” said the father.
“I did,” said Hunbatz.
“And how are the boys doing?” asked the father.
At that old Hunbatz shook his head sadly and answered, as the owl had told him:
“They sing and they play
For half of the day.”