NOT A PIN TO CHOOSE

block of marble, and upon it a black casket, and upon that
again a gold ring, in which was set a blood-red stone.
Beyond these things there was nothing; the walls were
bare, the roof was bare, the floor was bare—all was bare
and naked stone.

“ Well,” said the wood-chopper, ‘‘as the old men have
taken everything else, I might as well take these things.
The ring is certainly worth something, and maybe I shall
be able to sell the casket for a trifle into the bargain.” So
he slipped the ring upon his finger, and, taking up the
casket, left the place. ‘I command thee to be closed,’
said he, “in the name of the red Aldebaran!” And
thereupon the door closed, creaking and groaning.

After a little while he found his ass, saddled it and
bridled it, and loaded it with the bundle of fagots that he
had chopped the day before, and then set off again to try
to find his way out of the thick woods. But still his luck
was against him, and the farther he wandered the deeper
he found himself in the thickets. In the meantime he was
like to die of hunger, for he had not had a bite to eat for
more than a whole day.

“Perhaps,” said he to himself, “there may be some-
thing in the casket to stay my stomach ;” and, so saying,
he sat him down, unlocked the casket, and raised the lid.

Such a yell as the poor wretch uttered cars never
heard before. Over he rolled upon his back and there
lay staring with wide eyes, and away scampered the
jackass, kicking up his heels and braying so that the
leaves of the trees trembled and shook. For no sooner
had he lifted the lid than out leaped a great hideous
Genie, as black as a coal, with one fiery-red eye in the

231