Pagina 560 de 626

The second night he again went up into the old castle, sat down

by the fire, and once more began his old song: 'If I could but

shudder!' When midnight came, an uproar and noise of tumbling

about was heard; at first it was low, but it grew louder and

louder. Then it was quiet for a while, and at length with a loud

scream, half a man came down the chimney and fell before him.

'Hullo!' cried he, 'another half belongs to this. This is not

enough!' Then the uproar began again, there was a roaring and

howling, and the other half fell down likewise. 'Wait,' said he,

'I will just stoke up the fire a little for you.' When he had

done that and looked round again, the two pieces were joined

together, and a hideous man was sitting in his place. 'That is no

part of our bargain,' said the youth, 'the bench is mine.' The

man wanted to push him away; the youth, however, would not allow

that, but thrust him off with all his strength, and seated

himself again in his own place.