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the feet； or a particle of shade。 After an hour's climb he was so thirsty that
he felt that he must drink。 He looked at the flask of water。 〃Three drops are
enough；〃 he thought； 〃I will just cool my lips。〃 He was lifting the flask to
his lips when he saw something beside him in the path。 It was a small dog；
and it seemed to be dying of thirst。 Its tongue was out； its legs were
lifeless； and a swarm of black ants were crawling about its lips。 It looked
piteously at the bottle which Hans held。 Hans raised the bottle； drank；
kicked at the animal； and passed on。
A strange black shadow came across the blue sky。
Another hour Hans climbed； the rocks grew hotter and the way steeper
every moment。 At last he could bear it no longer； he must drink。 The bottle
was half empty； but he decided to drink half of what was left。 As he lifted
it； something moved in the path beside him。 It was a child； lying nearly
dead of thirst on the rock； its eyes closed； its lips burning； its breath
coming in gasps。 Hans looked at it； drank； and passed on。
A dark cloud came over the sun； and long shadows crept up the
mountain…side。
It grew very steep now； and the air weighed like lead on Hans's
forehead； but the Golden River was very near。 Hans stopped a moment to
breathe； then started to climb the last height。
As he clambered on； he saw an old； old man lying in the path。 His eyes
were sunken； and his face deadly pale。
〃Water！〃 he said； 〃water！〃
〃I have none for you；〃 said Hans； 〃you have had your share of life。〃
He strode over the old man's body and climbed on。
A flash of blue lightning dazzled him for an instant； and then the
heavens were dark。
At last Hans stood on the brink of the cataract of the Golden River。
The sound of its roaring filled the air。 He drew the flask from his side and
hurled it into the torrent。 As he did so； an icy chill shot through him； he
shrieked and fell。 And the river rose and flowed over
The Black Stone
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When Hans did not come back Gluck grieved； but Schwartz was glad。
He decided to go and get the gold for himself。 He thought it might not do
to steal the holy water； as Hans had done； so he took the money little
Gluck had earned； and bought holy water of a bad priest。 Then he took a
basket of bread and wine； and started off。
He came to the great hill of ice； and was as surprised as Hans had been；
and found it as hard to cross。 Many times he slipped； and he was much
frightened at the noises； and was very glad to get across； although he had
lost his basket of bread and wine。 Then he came to the same hill of sharp；
red stone； without grass or shade； that Hans had climbed。 And like Hans he
became very thirsty。 Like Hans； too； he decided to drink a little of the
water。 As he raised it to his lips； he suddenly saw the same fair child that
Hans had seen。
〃Water！〃 said the child。 〃Water！ I am dying。〃
〃I have not enough for myself；〃 said Schwartz； and passed on。 A low
bank of black cloud rose out of the west。
When he had climbed for another hour； the thirst overcame him again；
and again he lifted the flask to his lips。 As he did so； he saw an old man
who begged for water。
〃I have not enough for myself；〃 said Schwartz； and passed on。
A mist； of the colour of blood； came over the sun。
Then Schwartz climbed for another hour； and once more he had to
drink。 This time； as he lifted the flask； he thought he saw his brother Hans
before him。 The figure stretched its arms to him； and cried out for water。
〃Ha； ha；〃 laughed Schwartz； 〃do you suppose I brought the water up
here for you？〃 And he strode over the figure。 But when he had gone a few
yards farther； he looked back； and the figure was not there。
Then he stood at the brink of the Golden River； and its waves were
black； and the roaring of the waters filled all the air。 He cast the flask into
the stream。 And as he did so the lightning glared in his eyes； the earth gave
way beneath him； and the river flowed over
The two Black Stones。
When Gluck found himself alone； he at last decided to try his luck
with the King of the Golden River。 The priest gave him some holy water
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
as soon as he asked for it； and with this and a basket of bread he started
off。
The hill of ice was much harder for Gluck to climb； because he was
not so strong as his brothers。 He lost his bread； fell often； and was
exhausted when he got on firm ground。 He began to climb the hill in the
hottest part of the day。 When he had climbed for an hour he was very
thirsty； and lifted the bottle to drink a little water。 As he did so he saw a
feeble old man coming down the path toward him。
〃I am faint with thirst；〃 said the old man； 〃will you give me some of
that water？〃
Gluck saw that he was pale and tired； so he gave him the water； saying；
〃Please don't drink it all。〃 But the old man drank a great deal； and gave
back the bottle two…thirds emptied。 Then he bade Gluck good speed； and
Gluck went on merrily。
Some grass appeared on the path； and the grasshoppers began to sing。
At the end of another hour； Gluck felt that he must drink again。 But； as
he raised the flask； he saw a little child lying by the roadside； and it cried
out pitifully for water。 After a struggle with himself Gluck decided to bear
the thirst a little longer。 He put the bottle to the child's lips； and it drank all
but a few drops。 Then it got up and ran down the hill。
All kinds of sweet flowers began to grow on the rocks； and crimson
and purple butterflies flitted about in the air。
At the end of another hour； Gluck's thirst was almost unbearable。 He
saw that there were only five or six drops of water in the bottle； however；
and he did not dare to drink。 So he was putting the flask away again when
he saw a little dog on the rocks； gasping for breath。 He looked at it； and
then at the Golden River； and he remembered the dwarf's words； 〃No one
can succeed except at the first trial〃； and he tried to pass the dog。 But it
whined piteously； and Gluck stopped。 He could not bear to pass it。
〃Confound the King and his gold； too！〃 he said； and he poured the few
drops of water into the dog's mouth。
The dog sprang up； its tail disappeared； its nose grew red； and its eyes
twinkled。 The next minute the dog was gone； and the King of the Golden
River stood there。 He stooped and plucked a lily that grew beside Gluck's
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feet。 Three drops of dew were on its white leaves。 These the dwarf shook
into the flask which Gluck held in his hand。
〃Cast these into the river；〃 he said； 〃and go down the other side of the
mountains into the Treasure Valley。〃 Then he disappeared。
Gluck stood on the brink of the Golden River； and cast the three drops
of dew into the stream。 Where they fell； a little whirlpool opened； but the
water did not turn to gold。 Indeed； the water seemed vanishing altogether。
Gluck was disappointed not to see gold； but he obeyed the King of the
Golden River； and went down the other side of the mountains。
When he came out into the Treasure Valley； a river； like the Golden
River； was springing from a new cleft in the rocks above； and flowing
among the heaps of dry sand。 And then fresh grass sprang beside the river；
flowers opened along its sides； and vines began to cover the whole valley。
The Treasure Valley was becoming a garden again。
Gluck lived in the Valley； and his grapes were blue； and his apples
were red； and his corn was yellow； and the poor were never driven from
his door。 For him； as the King had promised； the river was really a River
of Gold。
It will probably be clear to anyone who has followed these attempts；
that the first step in adaptation is analysis； careful analysis of the story as it
stands。 One asks oneself； What is the story？ Which events are necessary
links in the chain？ How much of the text is pure description？