Arndt was returning home with his little sister, Reutha, and the children were tired. Reutha said that she’d rest on a little mound under a bush while Arndt went ahead to see if he could spot the light of their cottage.
When he returned, Reutha had vanished and all he could find were her shoes. An old pedlar passing that way told him, “There are little hill-men who kidnap children and take them into the fairy-palace as servants. They never set them free. They wear green caps and if you get a cap, that hill-man becomes your servant!”
Arndt decided to sit down and wait near the mound. Soon, the mound opened and he saw a palace underneath. Little hill-men and women came out and began playing. They threw up their caps and Arndt caught one of them.
All the hill-men vanished except the one whose cap Arndt held. He asked Arndt to return his cap, but the boy said he would give it only if he got his sister back. He ordered the hill-man to take him to his sister.
Much against his wish, the hill-man took Arndt down a long, badly lit staircase into the underground palace. He led him through halls and galleries where lavish food was served. Gentle music played everywhere. There were gardens and orchards and after a while, Arndt forgot all about Reutha. He was completely enchanted by the music and by the splendid comforts and the delicious food he was given.
One day, Arndt heard a sad song. Looking around, he saw some children working in the underground palace. Some worked on looms and some were digging in the gardens, some were washing clothes and the others were cleaning large urns and jars. He remembered why he had come. All of a sudden, he saw little Reutha among them.
He asked the hill-man to release her, but the man shook his head. “They have to serve us for a hundred years,” he said, “And they will always remain children!”
Arndt refused to listen to the hill-man. “You have to obey me!” he said firmly as he walked ahead and took Reutha’s hand. He led her through the chambers and gardens and up the gloomy staircase till they reached the mound.
Once he had got outside, he made sure Reutha was safe. Then he turned to the hill-man. “You can have this now!” Arndt said to him, before throwing the cap back to him.
