Страница 565 из 626

'Now it is your turn to die.' Then he seized an iron bar and beat

the old man till he moaned and entreated him to stop, when he

would give him great riches. The youth drew out the axe and let

him go. The old man led him back into the castle, and in a cellar

showed him three chests full of gold. 'Of these,' said he, 'one

part is for the poor, the other for the king, the third yours.'

In the meantime it struck twelve, and the spirit disappeared, so

that the youth stood in darkness. 'I shall still be able to find

my way out,' said he, and felt about, found the way into the

room, and slept there by his fire. Next morning the king came and

said: 'Now you must have learnt what shuddering is?' 'No,' he

answered; 'what can it be?