In the meantime the boy had grown up, and he was both clever and wise. But the nearer the end of the twelve years came, the more sorrowful the Merchant grew; you could even see his misery in his face. One day his son asked him what was the matter, but his father would not tell him. The boy, however, persisted so long that at last he told him that, without knowing what he was doing, he had promised to give him up at the end of twelve years to a little black Mannikin, in return for a quantity of gold. He had given his hand and seal on it, and the time was now near for him to go.
Then his son said, ‘O father, don’t be frightened, it will be all right. The little black Mannikin has no power over me.’
When the time came, the son asked a blessing of the Priest, and he and his father went to the field together; and the son made a circle within which they took their places.
When the little black Mannikin appeared, he said to the father, ‘Have you brought what you promised me?’
The man was silent, but his son said, ‘What do you want?’
The Mannikin said, ‘My business is with your father, and not with you.’
The son answered, ‘You deceived and cheated my father. Give me back his bond.’
‘Oh no!’ said the little man; ‘I won’t give up my rights.’
They talked to each other for a long time, and at last they decided that, as the son no longer belonged to his father, and declined to belong to his foe, he should get into a boat on a flowing stream, and his father should push it off himself, thus giving him up to the stream.
So the youth took leave of his father, got into the boat, and
