"Nevertheless, you can take a
message that I have for them. You probably know the present condition of
Lake Maelar? There's a great overflow down there and all the swans who
live in Hjaelsta Bay are about to see their nests, with all their eggs,
destroyed. Daylight, the swan-king, has heard of the midget who travels
with the wild geese and knows a remedy for every ill. He has sent me to
ask Akka if she will bring Thumbietot down to Hjaelsta Bay."
"I dare say I can convey your message," Agar replied, "but I can't
understand how the little boy will be able to help the swans."
"Nor do I," said Smirre, "but he can do almost everything, it seems."
"It's surprising to me that Daylight should send his messages by a fox,"
Agar remarked.
"Well, we're not exactly what you'd call good friends," said Smirre
smoothly, "but in an emergency like this we must help each other.
Perhaps it would be just as well not to tell Akka that you got the
message from a fox. Between you and me, she's inclined to be a little
suspicious."
The safest refuge for water-fowl in the whole Maelar district is Hjaelsta
Bay. It has low shores, shallow water and is also covered with reeds.
It is by no means as large as Lake Takern, but nevertheless Hjaelsta is a
good retreat for birds, since it has long been forbidden territory to
hunters.
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