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down the tree； and in the course of an hour it began to shake
with me。 At length it began to bend； and I found that one or
two blows at the most would put it down。 I then began to think
that my death was inevitable； considering that those who were
capable of doing so much would soon end my life； but just
as she had the stroke drawn that would terminate my fate； the
cock crew； and the witches disappeared； having resumed their
natural shapes for fear of being known； and I got safe off with my
bags of gold。
‘Now； sir；' says he to the Knight of the Glen； ‘if that be not as
great an adventure as ever you heard； to be within one blow of a
hatchet of my end； and that blow even drawn； and after all to
escape； I leave it to yourself。'
‘Well； I cannot say but it is very extraordinary；' says the Knight
of the Glen； ‘and on that account pardon this young man his crime；
so stir up the fire； till I boil this second one。'
‘Indeed；' says the Black Thief； ‘I would fain think he would not
die this time either。'
‘How so？' says the knight； ‘it is impossible for him to escape。'
‘I escaped death more wonderfully myself；' says the Thief of
Sloan； ‘than if you had him ready to throw into the furnace； and I
hope it will be the case with him likewise。'
‘Why； have you been in another great danger？' says the knight。
‘I would be glad to hear the story too； and if it be as wonderful as
the last； I will pardon this young man as I did the other。'
‘My way of living； sir；' says the Black Thief； ‘was not good；
as I told you before； and being at a certain time fairly run out of
cash； and meeting with no enterprise worthy of notice； I was reduced
to great straits。 At length a rich bishop died in the neighbourhood I
was then in； and I heard he was interred with a great deal of jewels
and rich robes upon him； all which I intended in a short time
to be master of。 Accordingly that very night I set about it； and
coming to the place； I understood he was placed at the further end
of a long dark vault； which I slowly entered。 I had not gone in
far until I heard a foot coming towards me with a quick pace； and
although naturally bold and daring； yet； thinking of the deceased
bishop and the crime I was engaged in； I lost courage； and ran
towards the entrance of the vault。 I had retreated but a few paces
when I observed； between me and the light； the figure of a tall
black man standing in the entrance。 Being in great fear and not
knowing how to pass； I fired a pistol at him； and he immediately
fell across the entrance。 Perceiving he still retained the figure of
a mortal man； I began to imagine that it could not be the bishop's
ghost； recovering myself therefore from the fear I was in； I
ventured to the upper end of the vault； where I found a large
bundle； and upon further examination I found that the corpse was
already rifled； and that which I had taken to be a ghost was no
more than one of his own clergy。 I was then very sorry that I had
the misfortune to kill him； but it then could not be helped。 I took
up the bundle that contained everything belonging to the corpse
that was valuable； intending to take my departure from this
melancholy abode； but just as I came to the mouth of the entrance
I saw the guards of the place coming towards me； and distinctly
heard them saying that they would look in the vault； for that the
Black Thief would think little of robbing the corpse if he was
anywhere in the place。 I did not then know in what manner to act；
for if I was seen I would surely lose my life； as everybody had a
look…out at that time； and because there was no person bold enough
to come in on me。 I knew very well on the first sight of me that
could be got； I would be shot like a dog。 However； I had not time to
lose。 I took and raised up the man which I had killed； as if he was
standing on his feet； and I； crouching behind him； bore him up as
well as I could； so that the guards readily saw him as they came up
to the vault。 Seeing the man in black； one of the men cried that
was the Black Thief； and； presenting his piece； fired at the man； at
which I let him fall； and crept into a little dark corner myself； that
was at the entrance of the place。 When they saw the man fall；
they ran all into the vault； and never stopped until they were at the
end of it； for fear； as I thought； that there might be some others
along with him that was killed。 But while they were busy
inspecting the corpse and the vault to see what they could miss； I
slipped out； and； once away； and still away； but they never had the
Black Thief in their power since。'
‘Well； my brave fellow；' says the Knight of the Glen； ‘I see you
have come through many dangers： you have freed these two princes
by your stories； but I am sorry myself that this young prince has
to suffer for all。 Now； if you could tell me something as wonderful
as you have told already； I would pardon him likewise； I pity this
youth and do not want to put him to death if I could help it。'
‘That happens well；' says the Thief of Sloan； ‘for I like him
best myself； and have reserved the most curious passage for the last
on his account。'
‘Well； then；' says the knight； ‘let us hear it。'
‘I was one day on my travels；' says the Black Thief； ‘and I
came into a large forest； where I wandered a long time； and could
not get out of it。 At length I came to a large castle； and fatigue
obliged me to call in the same； where I found a young woman and
a child sitting on her knee； and she crying。 I asked her what
made her cry； and where the lord of the castle was； for I wondered
greatly that I saw no stir of servants or any person about the
place。
‘ ‘‘It is well for you；'' says the young woman； ‘‘that the lord of
this castle is not at home at present； for he is a monstrous giant；
with but one eye on his forehead； who lives on human flesh。 He
brought me this child；'' says she； ‘‘I do not know where he got it；
and ordered me to make it into a pie； and I cannot help crying at
the command。''
‘I told her that if she knew of any place convenient that I
could leave the child safely I would do it； rather than it should be
killed by such a monster。
‘She told me of a house a distance off where I would get a
woman who would take care of it。 ‘‘But what will I do in regard
of the pie？''
‘ ‘‘Cut a finger off it；'' said I； ‘‘and I will bring you in a young
wild pig out of the forest； which you may dress as if it was the
child； and put the finger in a certain place； that if the giant doubts
anything about it you may know where to turn it over at the first；
and when he sees it he will be fully satisfied that the pie is made of
the child。''
‘She agreed to the scheme I proposed； and； cutting off the child's
finger； by her direction I soon had it at the house she told me of；
and brought her the little pig in the place of it。 She then made
ready the pie； and after eating and drinking heartily myself； I