Now amongst all the young men who wanted to marry Barbaik , the one whose heart was most set on her was her father 's head man , but as his manners were rough and he was exceedingly ugly she would have nothing to say to him , and , what was worse , often made fun of him with the rest . Jegu , for that was his name , of course heard of this , and it made him very unhappy . Still he would not leave the farm , and look for work elsewhere , as he might have done , for then he would never see Barbaik at all , and what was life worth to him without that ? One evening he was bringing back his horses from the fields , and stopped at a little lake on the way home to let them drink . He was tired with a long day 's work , and stood with his hand on the mane of one of the animals , waiting till they had done , and thinking all the while of Barbaik , when a voice came out of the gorse close by . ` What is the matter , Jegu ? You must n't despair yet . ' The young man glanced up in surprise , and asked who was there . ` It is I , the brownie of the lake , ' replied the voice . ` But where are you ? ' inquired Jegu . ` Look close , and you will see me among the reeds in the form of a little green frog . I can take , ' he added proudly , ` any shape I choose , and even , which is much harder , be invisible if I want to . ' ` Then show yourself to me in the shape in which your family generally appear , ' replied Jegu . ` Certainly , if you wish , ' and the frog jumped on the back of one of the horses , and changed into a little dwarf , all dressed in green . This transformation rather frightened Jegu , but the brownie bade him have no fears , for he would not do him any harm ; indeed , he hoped that Jegu might find him of some use . ` But why should you take all this interest in me ? ' asked the peasant suspiciously . ` Because of a service you did me last winter , which I have never forgotten , ' answered the little fellow . ` You know , I am sure , that the korigans -LSB- FN # 3 : The spiteful fairies . -RSB-
who dwell XXXXX the White Corn country have declared war on my people , because they say that they are the friends of man .
among as at from in on till to with without