tioned him without advantage. He called out for Anna. Presently she came. "Give the articles of agreement to this man," said the big man. "I have not thought about it," said she. "Give them up," said the big man, "or I will put thee for three hours under the iron flails." He put her for that period under the flails, and gave her plenty of it. After that she got up again quite sound. He said to her the second time, "Give them up now or I will put thee for three hours in the boilers that are boiling before thee." She refused him the second time, and said she would not give them. He put her into the boiler for a space of three hours. Finally, she rose up as well as ever she was. The big man said to her the third time, "Give up the articles of agreement now or I will put thee out into Mathew's chamber for a space of three hours more." "I will give them up now, rather than go into Mathew's chamber." She gave them up on the spot. The big man reached them over to the poor traveller, who immediately set off. He did not take leave of them or halt till he came where Mathew was. Mathew saluted him, and asked if he had good news. He related his story to him from beginning to end as it had happened. When Mathew had heard the story he was filled with sorrow of heart and horror of mind, and said "Alas! melancholy is my condition after death, and, in truth, it is what I have earned from my manner of living. But, alas! there is no remedy for it now, for the last bit of my life is at hand. Now, since I have done thee a service, it is right thou should'st do me one likewise."
"Don't be afraid," said the traveller; "if I must wait with thee to the end of my life I will do for thee everything that lies in my power." "I will not ask thee to do too much for me," said Mathew. "Gather materials for a fire, and make it up, and, when it is quite red, catch hold of me and put me right into the middle of the fire, and keep me there till I am burnt. Then pick up every grain of ashes, and take them home in thy handkerchief, and tell my brother, the priest, to read three masses over them; and after that my soul will be safe." The traveller did everything he had been ordered. Nothing is narrated of his journey till he came home. The priest did as he was directed, and that put an end to his troubles, and an end besides to my story.
