The geese paused in front of him, and all bowed their heads many times,
looking so grave that he had to doff his cap and make an obeisance to
them.
"The fact is," said Akka, "we old geese have been thinking that if
Thumbietot had been in the service of human beings and had done as much
for them as he has for us they would not let him go without rewarding
him well."
"I haven't helped you; it is you who have taken good care of me,"
returned the boy.
"We think also," continued Akka, "that when a human being has attended
us on a whole journey he shouldn't be allowed to leave us as poor as
when he came."
"I know that what I have learned this year with you is worth more to me
than gold or lands," said the boy.
"Since these gold coins have been lying unclaimed in the cleft all these
years, I think that you ought to have them," declared the wild goose.
"I thought you said something about needing this money yourselves,"
reminded the boy.
"We do need it, so as to be able to give you such recompense as will
make your mother and father think you have been working as a goose boy
with worthy people."
The boy turned half round and cast a glance toward the sea, then faced
about and looked straight into Akka's bright eyes.
"I think it strange, Mother Akka, that you turn me away from your
service like this and pay me off before I have given you notice," he
said.
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