And as gnomes live many hundreds of years he saw strange things . For , the first time he came up , the great hills were covered with thick forests , in which wild animals roamed , and Rubezahl watched the fierce fights between bear and bison , or chased the grey wolves , or amused himself by rolling great rocks down into the desolate valleys , to hear the thunder of their fall echoing among the hills . But the next time he ventured above ground , what was his surprise to find everything changed ! The dark woods were hewn down , and in their place appeared blossoming orchards surrounding cosy-looking thatched cottages ; for every chimney the blue smoke curled peacefully into the air , sheep and oxen fed in the flowery meadows , while from the shade of the hedges came the music of the shepherd 's pipe . The strangeness and pleasantness of the sight so delighted the gnome that he never thought of resenting the intrusion of these unexpected guests , who , without saying ` by your leave ' or ` with your leave , ' had made themselves so very much at home upon is hills ; nor did he wish to interfere with their doings , but left them in quiet possession of their homes , as a good householder leaves in peace the swallows who have built their nests under his eaves . He was indeed greatly minded to make friends with this being called ` man , ' so , taking the form of an old field labourer , he entered the service of a farmer . Under his care all the crops flourished exceedingly , but the master proved to be wasteful and ungrateful , and Rubezahl soon left him , and went to be shepherd to his next neighbour . He tended the flock so diligently , and knew so well where to lead the sheep to the sweetest pastures , and where among the hills to look for any who strayed away , that they too prospered under his care , and not one was lost or torn by wolves ; but this new master was a hard man , and begrudged him his well-earned wages . So he ran away and went to serve the judge . Here he upheld the law with might and main , and was a terror to thieves and evildoers ; but the judge was a bad man , who took bribes , and despised the law . Rubezahl would not be the tool of an unjust man , and so he told his master , who thereupon ordered him to be thrown in prison . Of course that did not trouble the gnome at all , he simply got out through the keyhole , and went away down to his underground palace , very much disappointed by his first experience of mankind . But , as time went on , he forgot the disagreeable things that had happened to him , and thought he would take another look at the upper world . So he stole into the valley , keeping himself carefully hidden in copse or hedgerow , and very soon met with an adventure ; for , peeping through a screen of leaves , he saw before him a green lawn where stood a charming maiden , fresh as the spring , and beautiful to look upon . Around her upon the grass lay her young companions , as if they had thrown themselves down to rest after some merry game . Beyond them flowed a little brook , into which a waterfall leapt from a high rock , filling the air with its pleasant sound , and making a coolness even in the sultry noontide . The sight of the maiden so pleased the gnome that , for the first time , he wished himself a mortal ; and , longing for a better view of the gay company , he changed himself into a raven and perched upon an oaktree which overhung the brook . But he soon found that this was not at all a good plan . He could only see with a raven 's eyes , and feel as a raven feels ; and a nest of field-mice at the foot of the tree interested him far more than the sport of the maidens . When he understood this he flew down again in a great hurry into the thicket , and took the form of a handsome young man -- that was the best way -- and he fell in love with the girl then and there .
The fair maiden was the daughter of the king of the country , and she often wandered in the forest XXXXX her play fellows gathering the wild flowers and fruits , till the midday heat drove the merry band to the shady lawn by the brook to rest , or to bathe in the cool waters .
So Under before between by for into of through with