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The Ogre's Feather

" But soon he was snoring. After a few minutes the maiden rolled toward him, plucked one feather, and handed it to the young man under her bed.

"Ouch!" the Ogre said with a start. "What are you doing?"

"Husband, I'm sorry. I was having the strangest dream, and I must have rolled over on one of your feathers."

"What was your dream?"

"I dreamt there were two noblemen, not far from here, who lost their fortune overnight."

"Your dream is a fact," said the Ogre sleepily. "There are two noblemen nearby who lost their fortune. What they don't know is that in the garden between their two estates there is a fountain. And if they dug at the mouth of the fountain and killed the snake that's plugging a hole, that fountain would spew gold and silver and their fortune would be restored."

"Ah," she said. "Good night then." Soon he was snoring again. After a few minutes, she rolled over, plucked a second feather and quickly handed it to the young man under the bed.

"What is with you tonight?" he roared. "That hurt!"

"I'm so sorry," she said as sweetly as she could. "I must have rolled over on your feather again because I was having another strange dream."

"What is it this time?"

"I dreamt of a ferryman who has been stuck on his ferry for years and wonders how he can get off."

"Your dreams are true enough tonight," said the Ogre. "The only way the ferryman can escape is if he charters a customer across the river and jumps out before he is paid. Then the one left on the ferry is the one who will be stuck."

"Ah, I see," she said. "Good night then."

"I hope this is the end of your dreams!" he said. "Now leave me be." Moments later he was snoring again. For a third time the maiden rolled toward him, plucked two feathers this time, and handed them to her stowaway under the bed.

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