through the handle of the four-handled kettle, and, full as it was, lifted it to his shoulder and walked away. The priests and the peasants wondered at it, and one cried, “Truly, he has carried off a kettle!”
A priest cried out, “For God’s sake, be silent! It is one of those mad men of Sassun. Take care or he will come back and break our ribs for us. May he take the thing and fall down with it!”
And David took the kettle of grits to his comrade, whom he found weeping on the mountain.
“Ha, ha,” said David, “I know why you weep. I have brought the grits, but have forgotten butter and salt. That is why you weep. Eat the grits now, and have salt and butter this evening.”
But the youth said, “David, I am ready to die for you. What need have I of salt and butter; forty thieving Dews have come and driven away our calves.”
David said, “Stay here and watch these calves, and I will bring back all the others”; and he went after the calves. He followed their tracks to the entrance of a cave and paused. He cried out with so loud a voice that the Dews were frightened, and were as full of fear as is the devil when Christ’s voice is heard in hell.
And when the leader of the Dews heard the voice he said: “That is surely David, Abamelik’s son. Go receive him with honor, else he will strike us dead.”
They went out, one by one, and David struck each as he passed with his oaken cudgel, so that their heads fell off and only dead bodies remained in the place. He cut off the ears of all the forty and buried them under a stone at the mouth of the cave.
He laid down his club and entered the cave. There he saw a heap of gold and a heap of silver—indeed, all the treasures of the world. Since his father’s death they had robbed and concealed their plunder in this cavern. He opened a door, and saw a steed standing fastened to a ring. David was sunk in thought, and said to himself: “Uncle dear, this property belongs to you, but this beast to me. If you give it to me—good. If not, you travel after those other fellows.” Then he
