it happened that soon afterwards the mother sent the two children to the town to buy needles and thread, and laces and ribbons. the road led them across a heath upon which huge pieces of rock lay strewn here and there. now they noticed a large bird hovering in the air, flying slowly round and round above them; it sank lower and lower, and at last settled near a rock not far off. directly afterwards they heard a loud, piteous cry. they ran up and saw with horror that the eagle had seized their old acquaintance the dwarf, and was going to carry him off.