Sure enough the next day the dog was standing at the door waiting to be let in.The old man was rather afraid of getting into trouble, but his wife urged him to sell the dog as the boy had bidden him, so he took it up to the castle and sold it to the duke for ten dollars.But he did not forget to take off the strap with which he had led the animal, and to carry it home.When he got there old Kirsten met him at the door.
'Well, Peder, and have you sold the dog?' asked she.
'Yes, Kirsten; and I have brought back ten dollars, as the boy told us,' answered Peder.
'Ay! but that's fine!' said his wife.'Now you see what one gets by doing as one is bid; if it had not been for me you would have driven the dog away again, and we should have lost the money.After all, Ialways know what is best.'
'Nonsense!' said her husband; 'women always think they know best.Ishould have sold the dog just the same whatever you had told me.Put the money away in a safe place, and don't talk so much.'
The next day Hans came again; but though everything had turned out as he had foretold, he found that his father was still not quite satisfied.
'Be off with you!' said he, 'you'll get us into trouble.'
'I haven't helped you enough yet,' replied the boy.'To-morrow there will come a great fat cow, as big as the house.Take it to the king's palace and you'll get as much as a thousand dollars for it.Only you must unfasten the halter you lead it with and bring it back, and don't return by the high road, but through the forest.'
The next day, when the couple rose, they saw an enormous head looking in at their bedroom window, and behind it was a cow which was nearly as big as their hut.Kirsten was wild with joy to think of the money the cow would bring them.
'But how are you going to put the rope over her head?' asked she.