第6部分(第6/7 頁)

ho　is　there？'　cried　the　Doctor；　putting　his　head　out　of　his　bedroom

window。

〃'Little　Hans；　Doctor。'

〃'What　do　you　want；　little　Hans？'

〃'The　Miller's　son　has　fallen　from　a　ladder；　and　has　hurt　himself；　and

the　Miller　wants　you　to　e　at　once。'

〃'All　right！'　said　the　Doctor；　and　he　ordered　his　horse；　and　his　big

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The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

boots；　and　his　lantern；　and　came　downstairs；　and　rode　off　in　the　direction

of　the　Miller's　house；　little　Hans　trudging　behind　him。

〃But　the　storm　grew　worse　and　worse；　and　the　rain　fell　in　torrents；　and

little　Hans　could　not　see　where　he　was　going；　or　keep　up　with　the　horse。

At　last　he　lost　his　way；　and　wandered　off　on　the　moor；　which　was　a　very

dangerous　place；　as　it　was　full　of　deep　holes；　and　there　poor　little　Hans

was　drowned。　His　body　was　found　the　next　day　by　some　goatherds；

floating　in　a　great　pool　of　water；　and　was　brought　back　by　them　to　the

cottage。

〃Everybody　went　to　little　Hans'　funeral；　as　he　was　so　popular；　and　the

Miller　was　the　chief　mourner。

〃'As　I　was　his　best　friend；'　said　the　Miller；　'it　is　only　fair　that　I　should

have　the　best　place'；　so　he　walked　at　the　head　of　the　procession　in　a　long

black　cloak；　and　every　now　and　then　he　wiped　his　eyes　with　a　big　pocket…

handkerchief。

〃'Little　Hans　is　certainly　a　great　loss　to　every　one；'　said　the　Blacksmith；

when　the　funeral　was　over；　and　they　were　all　seated　fortably　in　the　inn；

drinking　spiced　wine　and　eating　sweet　cakes。

〃'A　great　loss　to　me　at　any　rate；'　answered　the　Miller；　'why；　I　had　as

good　as　given　him　my　wheelbarrow；　and　now　I　really　don't　know　what　to

do　with　it