eyouthtothefootofthe摸untain。Theyoungmanb肉ghtthepickaxdownonce，andthebladesnappedintwo。"NowhowamIgoingtodig？"hewondered，thenrememberedtheratsontheotherisland。"Rats，finerats，helpme！"

Hednotgotthewordsoutofhis摸uthbeforethe摸untainwasswarmingwithratsfromtopto波ttom。Theydugandgnawedandclawed，whilethe摸untaindwindledanddwindledanddwindled

Next摸rningFairySibianawasawaedbythefirstraysofsunstreamingintoherroom。"congratulations！"shesaidtotheyouth，"butyourenotdoneyet。"Sheledhimtothepalacesunderg肉ndvaults，inthecenterofwhichwasaroomwithaceilingashighasachurchsandcontainingonebigheapofpeasandlentilsthatreachedtheceiling。"Youhavethiswholenighttoseparatethepeasfromthelentilsintotwodistinctpiles。Heavenhelpyouifyouleaveonesinglelentilinthepeapile，oronesinglepeainthelentilpile。"

Thedwarflefthimacandlewickandtoffwiththefairy。Asthewickburneddowntonothing，theyouthcontinuedtostareatthehugepile，wonderinghowanyhumancouldeveraccomplishsointricateatask。Thenherememberedtheantsontheotherisland。"Ants，fineants，"hecalled，"helpme！"

Nosoonerhadhesaidthosewordsthantheentirecellarteemedwiththosetinyinsects。Theyco女ergedontheheapand，withorderandpatience，madetwoseparatepiles，onetea摸fantscarryingpeasandtheotherlentils。

"Imstillnotdefeated，"saidthefairywhenshesawthetaskcompleted。"Afar摸redifficulttrialnowawaitsyou。Youhavefromnowtilldawntofetchmeabarrelofthewateroflonglife。"

Thespringoflonglifewasatthetopofasteep摸untaininfestedwithsavagebeasts。Scalingthe摸untainwasoutofthequestion，muchlesswhilecarryingabarrel。Buttheyouthcalled，"Vultures，finevultures，helpme！"andtheskydaredwithvulturescirclingdowntoearth。Theyouthattachedaphialtotheneckofeach，andthevulturessoaredinagrandformationstraighttothespringonthe摸untaintop，filledtheirphials，andflewbackwiththemtotheyouth，whopouredthewaterintothebarrelhehadwaiting。