ILL-LUCK AND THE FIDDLER

sparkle. Beside all this, there were silks and satins and
velvets and laces and crystal and ebony and sandal-wood
that smelt sweeter than musk and rose leaves. All the
wealth of the world brought together into one place could
* not make such riches as Gebhart saw with his two eyes in
these four-and-twenty rooms. His heart beat fast within
him.

At last they reached a little door of solid iron, besid
which hung a sword with a blade that shone like lightning.
The master took the sword in one hand and laid the other
upon the latch of the door. Then he turned to Gebhart
and spoke for the first time since they had started upon
their long journey.

‘In this room,” said he, “ you will see a strange thing
happen, and in a little while I shall be as one dead. As
soon as that comes to pass, go you straightway through to
the room beyond, where you will find upon a marble table
a goblet of water and a silver dagger. Touch nothing
else, and look at nothing else, for if you do, all will be
lost to both of us. Bring the water straightway, and
sprinkle my face with it, and when that is done you and I
will be the wisest and greatest men that ever lived, for I
will make you equal to myself in all that I know. So
now swear to do what I have just bid you, and not turn
aside a hair’s-breadth in the going and the coming.
~ “J swear,” said Gebhart, and crossed his heart.

Then the master opened the door and entered, with
Gebhart close at his heels.

In the centre of the room was a great red cock, with
eyes that shone like sparks of fire. So soon as he saw the
master he flew at him, screaming fearfully, and spitting
out darts of fire that blazed and sparkled like lightning.

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