THE CUNNING MAN IN HILLTOWN
he had seen himself how the pot boiled with all its might, without fire, on the cold stone.
As soon as he was home again he determined to try the pot. It was filled with water and placed on a stone in the yard, and the whole family stood around it, watching to see it boil, and gazing with all their might at this wonderful article.
"You had better tell it to start," said the woman to her husband, after a while.
"You had better begin to boil," said Christopher to the pot.
They waited one hour, and another, but not even the faintest smoke could be seen.
"It is time to start!" shouted Christopher to the pot, but it did not heed him at all, and at length they were convinced that they had again been hoodwinked by the deceitful man in Hilltown.
Christopher swore that this time his man should not escape him. With six other Plainfielders he set out to work a fearful revenge upon the sly man in Hilltown, who did not seem to possess as much honor even as the sheep-painter.
The seven men arrived at Hilltown, and every one saw that they were fearfully excited. When they arrived at Eric's farm, all alighted and entered the dwelling-house.
"How do you do?" said Christopher to the culprit's wife, who was alone in the room. "Where is your rascal of a husband?"
"Eric is in the woods," returned the woman.
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