WOMAN'S WIT

his neck was to be wrung—and now he began to see that
he had all that he could ask for in the world. Yes; what
was there to ask for now ?

“T have nothing more for you to do,” said he to the
Demon; “you have done all that man could ask—you
may go now.”

“Go!” cried the Demon, “I shall not go until I
have done all that I have to do. Give me work, or
I shall wring your neck.” And his fingers began to
twitch.

Then the Tailor began to see into what a net he had
fallen. He began to tremble like one in an ague. He
turned his eyes up and down, for he did not know where
to look for aid. Suddenly, as he looked out of the window,
a thought struck him. ‘ Maybe,” thought he, “I can
give the Demon such a task that even he cannot do it.—
Yes, yes!” he cried, “I have thought of something for
you to do. Make me out yonder in front of my palace a
‘lake of water a mile long and a mile wide, and let it be
lined throughout with white marble, and filled with water
as clear as crystal.”

‘“‘Tt shall be done,” said the Demon. As he spoke he
spat in the air, and instantly a thick fog arose from the
earth and hid everything from sight. Then presently
from the midst of the fog there came a great noise of
chipping and hammering, of digging and delving, of rush-
ing and gurgling. All day the noise and the fog con-
tinued, and then at sunset the one ceased and the other
cleared away. The poor Tailor looked out of the window,
and when he saw what he saw his teeth chattered in his
head, for there was a lake a mile long and a mile broad,
lined within with white marble, and filled with water

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