“And how are the sweet fairies that my young master is taking to their home?” asked another of the ravens. “I hope they are safe in my young masters pockets?”
Jack felt in his pockets. Yes, they were all safe; but he did not take any of them out, lest the ravens should snatch at them.
“Eh?” continued the raven, pretending to listen; “did this dear young gentleman say that the fairies were asleep?”
“It doesn’t amuse me to talk about fairies,” said Jack; “but if you would explain some of the things in this country that I cannot make out, I should be very glad.”
“What things?” asked the blackest of the ravens.
“Why,” said Jack, “I see a full moon lying down there among the water-flags, and just going to set, and there is a half-moon overhead plunging among those great grey clouds, and just this moment I saw a thin crescent moon peeping out between the branches of that tree.”
“Well,” said all the ravens at once, “did the young master never see a crescent moon in the men and women’s world?”
“Oh yes,” said Jack.
“Did he never see a full moon?” asked the ravens.
“Yes, of course,” said Jack; “but they are the same moon. I could never see all three of them at the same time.”