9
and cheese and fresh bread in it; why ⟨should⟩ I be smothered under such a bundle of rags!'
'Softly, softly, my son,' replied ⟨the⟩ fiddler, there are treasures in that wallet an old barret cap of Siegefried, and an old sword belt of Dieterich, and a couple of old leathern soles of Ylsan, child!---These are no every-day concerns, my hearty! They are all estimable jewels to him who understands the thing; they are worth a whole mountain of sweet wine, and seven acres of thick golden wheat, to him who knows their value.'
'It may be so,' said the herdsman, I only wish we had a few cups of milk in the place of your treasures; but if it is so with your stomach, my good master, look you, here is a mouthful of goatmilk cheese, I meant to serve me for the night, but never mind, I am little disposed to eat.'
Berthold now produced his provisions, and Almerich devoured them as greedily as if he meant to swallow the herdsman after them by way of dessert. He then wiped his mouth, leaped briskly up, was again in good spirits, and stumped away before the herdsman as freshly as if nothing had ailed him. All this, however, seemed very odd to Berthold, and when he again felt the annoyance of the wallet, he drew a sigh so deep that it echoed back from the neighbouring rocks.
